CCFCS Celebrates World Refugee Day

Rochester, NY (June 20) – Held each year in June, World Refugee Day honors the strength and courage of millions of refugees around the world. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the benefit they bring to our communities. Rochester is proudly home to a wide array of refugees who’ve fled war and violence for haven in the U.S.  They are change makers with unique skills and dreams who contribute to the local economy and culture as taxpayers, workers, business owners, advocates, students, teachers, artists, and more.

Support to Rochester’s immigrant community has been a cornerstone of Catholic Charities' work since our founding in 1917.  Since 1980, more than 15,000 refugees have resettled in Rochester with the help of Catholic Charities Family and Community Services (CCFCS) and other community advocates.

Unfortunately, this year’s World Refugee Day also marks 6 months to the day that the federal administration issued an Executive Order directing a near total ban on refugee admissions to the U.S. and a funding freeze for resettlement.  Despite the cessation of refugee admissions, CCFCS continues to offer programs and services to support the community of New Americans. All of this is in keeping with our mission to serve those in need. We urge all friends of refugee resettlement to celebrate this day by taking concrete action in support of refugees. Please consider:

• Engaging with your Congressional representatives. Our friends at Church World Service have an excellent “Take Action” guideline for World Refugee Day.
• Reaching out to local refugee support agencies, including CCFCS.

This World Refugee Day, CCFCS stands with refugees at every part of their journey.  For more information on our Refugee, Immigration and Employment Program, please visit /services/refugee-immigration/.