About Us

Interfaith Refugee Ministry is dedicated to helping refugees rebuild their lives in eastern North Carolina. Our task is to assist refugees with necessities when they first arrive in New Bern and surrounding areas. This includes, but is not limited to, assistance with housing, food, clothing, employment, learning English, and cultural orientation.

The ultimate goal is to help refugees become self-reliant, emotionally secure and culturally adjusted in their new home.

Each year, Interfaith Refugee Ministry resettles refugee families from around the world. Our staff, working with volunteers, civic groups and faith communities, ensures each refugee will receive initial support as they begin a new life in a strange land.

Since 1992, IRM has resettled over 3200 individuals, through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, from many parts of the world. As the world situation changes so does our client demographic. We began by resettling refugees from war-torn Bosnia. Later, refugees from Burma began arriving and there is now an established community in New Bern. They have purchased homes, graduated from high school and college, joined the military and have become an integral part of the local community. Refugees from other countries include those from Central and South America, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Afghanistan and many more. Depending on their status, IRM is also able to assist some other immigrants such as human trafficking survivors, Cubans and Haitians. Working closely with schools, employers, the Department of Social services and the Health Department, IRM seeks to provide a solid foundation to help refugees integrate into their local communities.