From lockdown isolation to economic strife and fear of infection, the past year has been difficult for people across the globe. No doubt you were inspired to donate and ease the burden for someone else. Think back to the causes you elected to donate to. Did you support organizations providing COVID relief and PPE to developing nations? Perhaps you gave to groups building wells in drought-stricken areas or non-profits providing sustenance to the food-insecure abroad. These are laudable causes, and your generosity was likely felt far and wide. But what did you do for your own community?

According to the World Giving Index, the US is the most charitable nation in the world, a title it has held for the past ten years. In 2019, 61% of Americans reported making donations, a percentage that amounted to a staggering $449.64 billion in charitable giving. However, less than half reported having volunteered with an organization. It is true that sometimes opting to donate rather than volunteering is the better option, especially when it comes to groups operating abroad. Often, would-be-volunteers do not have the right skill set needed to work in a foreign country, and the time and expense would be better served in the form of a donation. But the power of donations over volunteering does not always hold true, especially locally. The COVID-19 pandemic and national conversations about racial equity have pulled back the curtain on widespread economic disparities in the US. Now more than ever we should believe—and act on—the importance of assisting the less fortunate in our own country, hometowns, and neighborhoods in addition to those abroad.

Despite being an organization with a national reach, Karam knows the importance of community-level activism. We started as a local organization in 2007 running food drives on the south side of Chicago and helping refugees resettle in Boston. Though we have since expanded our scope, we remain committed to uplifting refugees domestically and internationally. After all, how can we advocate for those outside our borders when we don’t engage with and uplift our own neighbors? Sustained activism and volunteerism locally have the power to transform entire communities and set the stage for broad change. Mirroring Karam’s own evolution, community work can grow and scope, forming entire movements and agents of change. So while millions of refugees and displaced people need assistance abroad, there is also still much to do to help resettled refugees right at home.

This World Refugee Month, we encourage you to donate to support refugee innovation and leadership. But we also urge you to consider getting involved in local refugee work, as well. You can tutor a young refugee student, review resumes for resettled adults, host peer-to-peer fundraisers, or help provide free medical treatment. 

The opportunities are endless, all you need to do is take that first step.