What we do

Athens County Sponsor Circle assists refugees in relocating to Athens County, Ohio. We work with refugees who have been identified by the United States State Department as being eligible for relocation in the United States. These may be individuals who worked for the US and now, due to the political situation, are no longer safe in their home countries—such as refugees from Afghanistan. Or they may be individuals fleeing a war zone from a nation the US supports—such as refugees from Ukraine. They may be seeking permanent location in the US or are just here temporarily until the crisis in their home country ends.

The ACSC team works with the refugees from identification to relocation. We begin by providing sponsorship for the refugee family, telling the US government that our team will assist the family once they reach the US. Our next step is to provide transportation, this might be rail transportation from a war zone, an apartment to stay in while they await a flight, and airline tickets. We meet the newcomers (a name we prefer to refugee) at the airport when they arrive and bring them to the home we have prepared for them. The home provided is furnished and fully stocked with food, kitchen equipment, toiletries, and other items. Often, volunteers from the team have prepared a ‘welcome’ meal with foods from the newcomers’ culture for when they arrive.

Next, our team begins the work to settle the newcomers into the community. This includes getting medical care, enrolling in school, setting up English lessons, learning the bus routes and where to shop, getting library cards, getting new phones, and applying for refugee benefits and work authorization. We also work to help the newcomer find employment.

All of these activities are carried out by ASCS volunteers, no one is reimbursed for expenses or their time.