The majority of asylum seekers arrive in the United States with very few belongings and receive little government aid. Therefore, RASN’s services are invaluable. Our organization offers two types of services: hands-on services and financial aid. RASN volunteers who provide hands-on support serve as mentors for asylum seekers and connect them with resources in Roanoke. These resources include medical, dental, educational, and legal resources, and they are provided free of charge by local organizations like churches, food banks, and the Bradley Free Clinic. In addition, many asylum seekers do not have cars, so our volunteers take them to appointments. Financial aid is primarily used to pay rent. Our organization spends between $7,000 and $8,000 per month on rent, electric bills, and legal fees. Each month, around 10 to 12 families need this type of assistance.
Our organization serves between 25 and 30 families at any given time, so we have a great need for volunteers and donations. Everyone who works with RASN is a volunteer. As of November 2023, around 100 people volunteer with RASN. Approximately one-fifth of these individuals provide hands-on services, and the rest contribute money to the organization. In fact, 95% of our funding consists of donations from members of the community. RASN does not recieve government grants, and we give 100% of our donations to the people that we serve. That is why we depend on the generosity of people like you to provide essential services to asylum seekers in Roanoke.
Numerous asylum seekers in the United States are detained along the border. Fortunately, in the last decade, there has been an effort to find alternatives to detention. Many non-governmental organizations have been established across the country to help asylum seekers avoid detention. RASN is one of these organizations that provides essenial services for asylum seekers to stay and succeed in the United States.