Freedom for the Weekend: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

by Amanda Kloer · 2009-08-07 12:00:00 UTC
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Well, it's Friday afternoon, and that means the weekend is almost here!  W00t! Perhaps you're reading this blog because you're bored at work or school and you're thinking about what you want to do this weekend.  How about spending part of your weekend fighting slavery?  Each week I'll profile a different anti-trafficking nonprofit who you can connect with to help free slaves and prevent slavery around the world.  So, spend a couple hours this weekend getting to know this nonprofit through their website, and then get involved!

This Week's Profile: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)

The Bottom Line: LIRS is a Lutheran organization which reaches out in love to new immigrants and refugees coming into the U.S. and welcomes them.  LIRS specializes in refugee children, including child trafficking victims, but serves all immigrants and refugees in need.

What They Do: They have a number of programs which directly serve immigrants and trafficking victims, many of which provide for their legal needs.  They also engage in advocacy on behalf of immigrants and trafficking victims and make small grants to their community partners.

What Can I Do?: You can volunteer to help refugees through the Lutheran Volunteer Corps or via advocacy on behalf of immigrants and trafficking victims.  You can also donate online to support their programs.

Why They Rock: They are one of only two organizations in the U.S. who serve unaccompanied minor refugee children, a population extremely vulnerable to trafficking.  By serving whole immigrant and refugee communities LIRS helps prevent human trafficking as well as assist victims with their needs.

So now that you've got some basic information on Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, visit their website this weekend and get involved.  And on Monday morning when everyone else is talking about sleeping in and watching tv over the weekend, you can say, "What did I do this weekend?  Oh, just the usual- abolition of slavery."

Do you have a favorite nonprofit you'd like to see featured here?  If so, let me know!

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic
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