Eastern Bank

The Refugee Dream Center Receives $10,000 Grant From Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation For COVID-19 Aid

Grant will support refugee families in Providence, RI, 02907

Providence, Rhode Island, October 23, 2020 

The Refugee Dream Center (RDC), a non-profit 501(c)(3) post-resettlement refugee organization based in Providence, Rhode Island, announced today that it has received a $10,000 grant from Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation (EBCF). The grant is part of a commitment from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation to provide financial support to local organizations focused on COVID-19 relief. 

This pandemic has presented unique challenges to our refugee communities in Providence, RI. Refugees have experienced microaggressions related to COVID-19 which has caused emotional distress and an overall negative impact on educational performance, mental and physical health. Refugee families have suffered significant financial strain due to lack of income and need for child care. Additionally, general misinformation about the pandemic as well as a lack of awareness and access to resources in the community have triggered fear among refugee communities. This pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income families. This grant will be used to provide direct relief for refugee families impacted by COVID-19 in Providence, RI. 

“In light of these challenges, our role in the community is to ensure that all our clients have the supplies they need, whether they are elderly, immuno-compromised, or facing discrimination. We used funding to encourage social-distancing and staying home, provide refugee families with basic necessities such as food, cleaning supplies and toiletries, and disseminate accurate and reliable information about COVID-19 via phone calls, text, and social media.”

– Rakia Islam, Program Manager 

EBCF is providing a total of $8 million in COVID-19 philanthropic support in the communities it serves. We thank Eastern Bank for supporting us as we combat the ill effects of a deeply inequitable social ecosystem in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Refugee Dream Center is receiving a grant for its meaningful work in aiding refugees, who, from hospitals, to grocery stores, to cleaning services, and transportation, are working on the front lines of this crisis, in roles with higher exposure to the virus as well as to layoffs and closures.

The Refugee Dream Center (RDC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) post-resettlement refugee organization based in Providence, Rhode Island. It offers support to the local refugee community to ensure the continued provision of  support services in their efforts towards self-sufficiency and integration. The RDC does referrals, and offers social level assistance and skill development programs; these include adult English language education, health promotion and cultural orientation, youth mentoring, and case management. In addition, the RDC serves as a strong advocacy agency for the rights of refugees.

Omar Bah, refugeedreamcenter@gmail.com, (401) 499-2745