Update as of Jan 4, 2024: Thank you to all the Belles who donated to our Winter Coat Drive! We were able to donate over 40 coats and winter gear (scarves, hats, sweaters) to the Refugee Community Connection. You donations have made an impact for several families in the Chicago area!
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We will be collecting new or gently used winter coats and jackets this fall for Refugee Community Connection. If you are attending any Club events in October, November or December, please feel free to bring a jacket or coat to donate.
They are most in need of coats for children and men but all donations are welcome.
If you are unable to attend an event and would still like to donate, please contact us, and we will let you know where you can drop off donations.
If you would like to buy a new coat or jacket, please see our Amazon wish list for suggested coats and outerwear.
Refugee Community Connection mission statement:
RCC is an all-volunteer Chicago based mutual aid organization that seeks to ease the transition of our newly arrived neighbors (refugees, asylees, and others forced to flee their home country) to the Chicago area, by providing resources, information, and household necessities through a personal connection with welcoming neighbors. We seek to supplement refugee basic needs not already met by professional refugee resettlement agencies and government services.
Beginning in 2022, large numbers of households from South and Central America, and many from Kyrgyzstan and Russia, came to the US as asylum seekers. Since RCC has been assisting newly arrived refugees to Chicago for more than 6 years, we wanted to shift our work in order to welcome the new population of neighbors to Chicago. We want to welcome new households and ease their transition to their new country.