The IRIS board and volunteers coordinate the purchase and transportation of needed items to families. IRIS is staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers.
Asylum Seeking Family, Recently Homeless
UPDATE ON SOUTH AMERICAN FAMILY: We are pleased to announce that IRIS was able to help the family mentioned below to secure housing and thanks to the support of several donors and volunteers, we were able to furnish their apartment with basic items. IRIS is supplementing their rent until they are more established. The family is still in need of a washer and dryer and IRIS is working to secure used machines and to coordinate the delivery of them. If you have a washer and/or dryer that you are seeking to replace please consider making a donation. Please also consider donating money for the ongoing basic needs of this family.
On Sunday November 11, 2018, IRIS responded to an urgent situation involving a family from South America who recently fled their country in the middle of night with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They were sleeping on the streets in Whatcom County until a local pastor found them and took them into his home. IRIS is deeply grateful for this act of kindness. This family has almost no clothing and they are sharing one small room. IRIS volunteers delivered a mattress (the parents had been sleeping on the floor), food, warm clothing and shoes to this family which includes two children, one who is only five years old. While we have no doubt that this family will get on their feet in time, they arrived in WA state only two weeks ago and they are in need of immediate assistance. Please donate to this family so that IRIS can continue to provide them with food and other basic necessities during this difficult time.