The Welcome to America Project

At the Welcome to America Project our mission is to Welcome new friends, and through resources we help refugees integrate to a brighter future. Through this work, WTAP not only serves newly arrived refugees, but also fosters successful integration and a positive impact that lasts a lifetime for refugees, communities, and volunteers that serve.

Through our weekly "Welcome" deliveries, WTAP and volunteers turn a house into a home by greeting refugees at their new residence and delivering essentials and necessities including but not limited to cleaning and hygiene supplies, bedding, blankets, towels, cooking utensils, pots/pans, dishes, microwaves, rugs, lamps, kitchen tables and chairs, sofas, clothing, shoes, and undergarments. Additionally, each family receives three indispensable and strategic items based on need, including a computer for work and school; a bike for transportation; and a smart television to aid in English acquisition, add increased exposure to a new culture, and add a space of normalcy.

Since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980, more than 3.1 million people have found safety and a sense of home in the United States. In the nearly 24 years since our founding, WTAP has welcomed over 25,000 refugees from over 50 countries, 70% of whom are women and children. WTAP has recently welcomed refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Congo, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Burma, and Nicaragua, many of whom had suffered persecution or violence and had little to no personal belongings when they arrived in America. In 2024, we’ve had the privilege of serving over 4,700 newcomers, welcoming one family every day—a record number of refugees welcomed by WTAP! Carrying on the spirit of welcoming refugees with honor and dignity, WTAP delivers in-kind donations to newly resettled refugees with the help of our volunteers through our Welcome Program.
Our objective is to accelerate refugees' paths to self-sufficiency by providing warm welcomes and sharing resources - and providing the education and support to utilize these resources. Our goal is to get beyond simple resettlement and instead resource refugees so that they can fully integrate and flourish in our community.