First things first:
You belong here.

Welcome to Refugee Support Services

Β 

Passionately building Charlotte’s
community since 2006.

Refugee Support Services is a 501(c)(3) organization leveraging the power of community to help refugees, asylees, and other displaced people make themselves at home in the Charlotte area. But that’s just the beginning.

Get to know RSS

How RSS champions post-resettlement.

A lot can change in a day. Everything can change in a year. This is a glimpse into the journey to RSS through the eyes of a refugee.

asha

Name: Asha
Home country: Syria
Resettlement destination: Charlotte, NC

Monday

Asha wakes up in a refugee camp in Somalia, where she’s been for eight years. Asha finally receives word that sheβ€˜s headed to the United States for resettlement.

Tuesday

Asha packs all of her belongings, says goodbye to her friends, and heads to the airport. She then boards a plane for the first time in her life. Wheels up. A resettlement agency working with national groups coordinated Asha's flight into the USA and will assist her with a 90 day apartment. But after that she'll be on her own... ...and that's where RSS comes in.

Wednesday

After a long cross-continental journey, Asha arrives in Charlotte. She’s excited, anxious, and nervous all at the same timeβ€”as any human would be. With a limited understanding of English and only rudimentary knowledge of American culture, Asha makes contact with RSS.

1 week later

RSS staff and volunteers welcome Asha with open arms. They learn her story, show her around, and introduce her to friends and other refugees. She gets connected with other Syrians in the neighborhood and learns about the diverse and supportive resources in Charlotte. Thanks to their hospitality, Asha’s first impression of Charlotte is a positive one.

1 month later

With the help of new friends, Asha lives in a cozy apartment close to the grocery store and her favorite park. She’s two weeks into a new job with health insurance. And this weekend, she’s heading to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway with a local hiking group.

1 year year

Asha is comfortable, happy, healthy, and totally settled into her Charlotte life with a job she loves and friends who care about her. She volunteers at RSS on the weekends to help pay the mission forward. She hasn’t missed a Knit Together Group in 6 months.

How RSS champions post-resettlement.

A lot can change in a day. Everything can change in a year. This is a glimpse into the journey to RSS through the eyes of a refugee.

Name: Asha
Home country: Syria
Resettlement destination: Charlotte, NC

Monday

Asha wakes up in a refugee camp in Somalia, where she’s been for eight years. Asha finally receives word that sheβ€˜s headed to the United States for resettlement.

Tuesday

Asha packs all of her belongings, says goodbye to her friends, and heads to the airport. She then boards a plane for the first time in her life. Wheels up. A resettlement agency working with national groups coordinated Asha's flight into the USA and will assist her with a 90 day apartment. But after that she'll be on her own... ...and that's where RSS comes in.

Wednesday

After a long cross-continental journey, Asha arrives in Charlotte. She’s excited, anxious, and nervous all at the same timeβ€”as any human would be. With a limited understanding of English and only rudimentary knowledge of American culture, Asha makes contact with RSS.

1 week later

RSS staff and volunteers welcome Asha with open arms. They learn her story, show her around, and introduce her to friends and other refugees. She gets connected with other Syrians in the neighborhood and learns about the diverse and supportive resources in Charlotte. Thanks to their hospitality, Asha’s first impression of Charlotte is a positive one.

1 month later

With the help of new friends, Asha lives in a cozy apartment close to the grocery store and her favorite park. She’s two weeks into a new job with health insurance. And this weekend, she’s heading to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway with a local hiking group.

1 year year

Asha is comfortable, happy, healthy, and totally settled into her Charlotte life with a job she loves and friends who care about her. She volunteers at RSS on the weekends to help pay the mission forward. She hasn’t missed a Knit Together Group in 6 months.

1,282

Active Program Participants in 2023

6,402

Volunteer hours completed in 2023

231

Active volunteers in 2023

98+

Community partnerships

There’s a lot going on at RSS!

And we’d love to have you join us.
View Calendar
Did you know?

North Carolina has been in the Top 10 resettlement states in the U.S for the last few years.

North Carolina has been in the Top 10 resettlement states in the U.S for the last few years.

Each year in October, the U.S. president sets the annual ceiling for welcoming people to the U.S. with refugee status.

In addition to refugees, the U.S. also supports asylees, special immigrant visa holders, humanitarian parolees, and certain unaccompanied minors under the federal refugee resettlement program.

Insta Highlights

Follow along @welcome.to.rss for all things RSS and @ktgrss to see the latest from our popular Knit Together Group!

ktgrss

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Dec 3

Open
Three cheers for the @wedgewoodclt International Holiday Bazaar! πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰ What an amazing day! We are so thankful to Wedgewood Social Justice Community and all those who came out to support our programs here @welcome.to.rss as well as our local refugee and immigrant community. There were so many talented vendors, delicious food, great music, and good vibes. A great time was had by all, and it was so wonderful to be part of such a special day. Be sure to check out and follow these amazing vendors! @nadasink @elesq @alisteele89 @marina.fascinate.studio @spice_and_sugar_cookies @charlotteforukraine1 @papercraftingwithamanda @intlhouseclt Pillows by Ashanti Munir Moravian Stars by Thomas Hanson Want to support our Knit Together Group but weren’t able to make it to the Bazaar? It’s not too late! We’ll be at the following Shop for Good events this weekend! Covenant Alternative Gift Market Sunday, December 8th, 9am-1pm Covenant Presbyterian Church 1000 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28204 @covenantpresbyclt Providence Day School Winter Market Sunday, December 8th, 2-4:30pm Providence Day School; Brinkley Dining Hall 5800 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270 @providencedayschool Thank you for helping us make Charlotte a more welcoming and inclusive place for all. ❀️🌍🀝 #welcomerefugees #refugeeswelcome #supportrefugees #supportrefugeewomen #supportwomen #supportwomeninbusiness #supportwomenartists #supportimmigrants #supportlocal #supportlocalbusiness #supportlocalartists #shopsmall #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness #givingtuesday #shopforgood #thankyou #beautyindiversity #strengthindiversity #womenaroundtheworld #charlotte #charlottenc #clt #queencity #allarewelcome #allarewelcomehere #bethechange

Three cheers for the @wedgewoodclt International Holiday Bazaar! πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰

What an amazing day! We are so thankful to Wedgewood Social Justice Community and all those who came out to support our programs here @welcome.to.rss as well as our local refugee and immigrant community. There were so many talented vendors, delicious food, great music, and good vibes. A great time was had by all, and it was so wonderful to be part of such a special day.

Be sure to check out and follow these amazing vendors!
@nadasink
@elesq
@alisteele89
@marina.fascinate.studio
@spice_and_sugar_cookies
@charlotteforukraine1
@papercraftingwithamanda
@intlhouseclt
Pillows by Ashanti Munir
Moravian Stars by Thomas Hanson

Want to support our Knit Together Group but weren’t able to make it to the Bazaar? It’s not too late! We’ll be at the following Shop for Good events this weekend!

Covenant Alternative Gift Market
Sunday, December 8th, 9am-1pm
Covenant Presbyterian Church
1000 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28204
@covenantpresbyclt

Providence Day School Winter Market
Sunday, December 8th, 2-4:30pm
Providence Day School; Brinkley Dining Hall
5800 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270
@providencedayschool

Thank you for helping us make Charlotte a more welcoming and inclusive place for all. ❀️🌍🀝

#welcomerefugees #refugeeswelcome #supportrefugees #supportrefugeewomen #supportwomen #supportwomeninbusiness #supportwomenartists #supportimmigrants #supportlocal #supportlocalbusiness #supportlocalartists #shopsmall #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness #givingtuesday #shopforgood #thankyou #beautyindiversity #strengthindiversity #womenaroundtheworld #charlotte #charlottenc #clt #queencity #allarewelcome #allarewelcomehere #bethechange ...

ktgrss

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Nov 15

Open
Come join us on December 1st at our @welcome.to.rss center for the third annual International Holiday Bazaar presented by @wedgewoodclt ! We will have all your must-have Knit Together Group items, and there will be many other local and international vendors as well. This will be a great opportunity to pick up some beautiful, unique, and meaningful gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. πŸ˜€πŸ§ΆπŸ›οΈπŸŽπŸ’— Sunday, Dec. 1, 12-4pm 3925 Willard Farrow Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215 Interested in being a vendor? Contact wedgewood.church@yahoo.com for more details. 😊

Come join us on December 1st at our @welcome.to.rss center for the third annual International Holiday Bazaar presented by @wedgewoodclt ! We will have all your must-have Knit Together Group items, and there will be many other local and international vendors as well. This will be a great opportunity to pick up some beautiful, unique, and meaningful gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. πŸ˜€πŸ§ΆπŸ›οΈπŸŽπŸ’—

Sunday, Dec. 1, 12-4pm
3925 Willard Farrow Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215

Interested in being a vendor? Contact wedgewood.church@yahoo.com for more details. 😊 ...

ktgrss

View

Nov 9

Open
β€œI often say that I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls. I think realizing that you’re not alone, that you are standing with millions of your sisters around the world is vital.” ~Malala Yousafzai Join us. @welcome.to.rss #supportrefugeewomen #supportrefugees #refugees #supportwomen #womensupportingwomen #welcome #welcomerefugees #allarewelcome #allarewelcomehere #beautyindiversity #strengthindiversity #standwithrefugees #standforpeace #standforequality #standforjustice #standforfreedom #standfordiversity #peace #equality #justice #freedom #diversity #kindness #bekind #kindnessmatters #womenaroundtheworld #bethechange

β€œI often say that I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls. I think realizing that you’re not alone, that you are standing with millions of your sisters around the world is vital.”
~Malala Yousafzai

Join us.

@welcome.to.rss

#supportrefugeewomen #supportrefugees #refugees #supportwomen #womensupportingwomen #welcome #welcomerefugees #allarewelcome #allarewelcomehere #beautyindiversity #strengthindiversity #standwithrefugees #standforpeace #standforequality #standforjustice #standforfreedom #standfordiversity #peace #equality #justice #freedom #diversity #kindness #bekind #kindnessmatters #womenaroundtheworld #bethechange ...

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New to RSS?

Welcome! We hope to meet you in the very near future. In the meantime, we’ve made it easy to learn about:

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Join the
community

RSS is an organization with so many opportunities to learn, connect, and give back through programs, including:

  • Community Navigation Programs
  • Food & Community Info Programs
  • Mentor Programs
  • and more!
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belong.

Make yourself
at home

Charlotte is a welcoming metropolis that’s attracting people from all over the world. Whether you've been here for minutes or years, here are some connection points to help you navigate the city!

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