Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) is a non-profit organization that provides services to immigrants and refuges and is just one of the many organizations that have been impacted by the recent federal funding cuts that were enacted by the Trump administration.
“KRM Lexington provides a wide variety of services are forcibly displaced people in central Kentucky,” stated KRM partnership coordinator, Melissa Coulston. Some of the services KRM provides include English and job readiness classes, case management, and youth programming. “We do everything we can to support newcomers who are building new homes in our communities,” said Coulston.
The services that KRM provides offer support to newcomers for up to five years after they arrive in the United States. This means that there are thousands of people who are eligible for KRM’s services. “Last year, we served over 1400 people and expected to serve around the same number this year. Unfortunately, all refugee resettlement is on hold and we have had no new arrivals since before January 20th,” stated Coulston.
In light of the portion of federal funding that KRM was receiving being frozen, KRM has shifted focus. “Our focus now is entirely on the clients that are already present in the United States and continuing to provide critical services and support to those individuals and families.” Coulston continued, “We are heartbroken and dismayed to see the actions taken by this administration to dismantle the robust refugee resettlement program that has welcomed vulnerable people to the US for nearly forty-five years, offering them safety and security in cities and towns across the country. We are working to raise awareness of what is being done and how to take action to support refugees and immigrants.”
In addition to providing necessary services to immigrants and refugees, KRM allows college students to get firsthand experience in this kind of work through their internship program. This semester Josie Deatherage, a senior Intercultural Studies major, has had the opportunity in KRM’s internship program.
Deatherage has gained valuable knowledge and experience through this internship that has broadened her perspective. “I feel like the biggest thing that I’ve learned is that there is a much bigger broader population of immigrants and refugees in Kentucky than I realized before. It seems like, for me at least, I haven’t come across many people just in my day-to-day life that are immigrants or refugees and I’ve just realized that there are a lot more basic needs that I wasn’t aware of before,” stated Deatherage. “These immigrants and refugees are also just humans, they are just people who are trying to live their daily lives trying to rent an apartment or figuring out their lease. They’re getting groceries they are getting supplies for their children, diapers, jobs and sometimes they just need a little extra help,” continued Deatherage.
Amidst a rapidly changing political climate, KRM has an increasing need for donations, volunteers, community involvement and advocacy. “Our biggest need at the moment is for financial donations to help bridge the gap while federal funds are frozen and threatened. Other ways to get involved include hosting donation drives, volunteering and internships, and speaking up for refugees and immigrants. KRM Lexington is happy to help {with} any efforts, please let us know,” said Coulston.
Students who are interested in getting involved with KRM can visit https://kyrm.org/get-involved/.
Additionally, KRM will be visiting Asbury on March 12th for an event. You can read more about this in Landrie Nickell’s article in this edition of The Collegian entitled Upcoming Immigration Simulation.
Photo courtesy of Kentucky Refugee Ministries.
