Volunteer Opportunities and Events

What:  St. Mark’s Friends of Refugees. St. Marks engages in welcoming Afghan and other refugees. We treasure developed friendships, support families making a new life in a culture so different from their own, and  celebrate with them as children enroll in schools, babies are born, English language skills improved, parents find new jobs and more.  

          A founding member of Good Neighbors Capitol Hill (GNCH) in 2016, St. Mark’s is the “Bed, Bath and Beyond” Team.  We are generously supported by our congregation and friends with new and gently used bed and bath linens as well as toiletries.  Along with the other GNCH volunteer teams, we have furnished more than 165 homes with household necessities such as furniture, small appliances, kitchen and cleaning supplies as well as a month of grocery staples appropriate to their culture. New and gently used GIK donations enable St. Mark’s and the other GNCH teams to furnish welcoming homes.  

Join the St. M’s Friends of Refugees for the joys and challenges          of helping families as they build a new life.  The generosity of donors and volunteers enables us to help families with rent, tuition for professional school and ESL, advice on medical insurance,   medical and dental payments, driver’s licenses, and visa advice.    

The 2025 elimination of federal funding for resettlement, a reduction of immigration quotas plus new travel and visa restrictions, make the future for refugee resettlement uncertain, but requests for assistance continue and we strive to respond with compassion. Volunteers and donors make this possible.  For info about joining our team contact: Karen karen.getman@gmail.com or Kim  Baylissdc@gmail.com 

Many ways you can participate:

  1. Provide gifts in kind (GIKs). Gently used furnishings for refugee apartments. 
  2. Drop toiletries or bed and bath linens in the Bed, Bath and Beyond Bins in our entry way at any time or contact Karen or Kim to arrange for larger items.
  3. Volunteer with our “Bed, Bath and Beyond” Team to prepare the bedding and bath and toiletry packs for delivery to families. Participate in the delivery and preparation of the apartments.
  4. Volunteer to assist the GNCH Furniture Team on an occasional Saturday if you have the muscle for heavier lifting. Contact Karen or Kim to sign up and you will receive a mailing when we have the need.
  5. Participate on a team to mentor an Afghan family with language skills or other acclimation support.
  6. Support our St. Mark’s Refugee Emergency Assistance Fund

Click on the “Donate or Pledge” link on the St. Mark’s website, then click “Donate Now.”

When you see “Fund” on the next screen, scroll down all the way to  “Afghan Outreach” at the end of the list.

 Select and click on “Afghan Outreach.”

We are grateful for your interest.