Refugee Cooperative Services at Lutheran Services in Iowa and Catholic Charities

Refugees are people who have fled their country becuase of a fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, political opinion or social group. Each year Refugee Cooperative Services help to resettle over 230 refugees to the Des Moines area from countries like Iraq, Burundi, Somalia, and Liberia. Refugees coming to Iowa face many challenges, including learning to adapt to a new country, culture and language. Here at Refugee Cooperative Services we are helping them by finding housing, meeting them at the airport, initially providing basic household goods, and assisting with paperwork. Within the first months, we help refugees find jobs or enroll in school and strive to help them become self-sufficient and independent.