WHY IS REDA NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY?

about us!

REDA started as a group of volunteers providing service to refugees. The need for a centralized effort became clear as the number of refugee families increased in the Sacramento area and the demand for assistance grew. As a result, REDA was founded in 2017 and opened an official service center: a place that refugees and their families can visit to find staff that speak their language and share their culture – a place that creates a bridge to already existing resources in the community. It is a place where there is no hesitation to ask questions about the difference of life here and how to adjust.

In the long-term, REDA will focus on community education aimed at enriching refugees’ life skills to help them develop greater coping ability with resettlement challenges, language barriers, cultural and economic issues. After years of being a volunteer ran organization, REDA is now staffed by 5 employees, 3 contractors and a dozen of volunteers.

Achievements

Gift Card program

Which provided $200 gift cards to 1210 refugee families in collaboration with Rahima Foundation

Food distribution program

Which distributed over 27500 lb. of dates to over 5000 families in three seasonal distribution events in addition to 1000 food bags to over 1000 families between 2017 – 2019, as well as a distribution of 6689 lb. of Qurbani beef to over 1000 families in 2019 in collaboration with IRUSA

COVID-19 Helpline

In addition to its regular RSSC helpline, REDA launched in September 2020 the COVID-19 helpline. This helpline -funded by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation- supported 38 families (approximately 190 individuals) in which at least one member tested positive, by providing emergency food, hygiene, and cleaning supplies to cover families’ needs during the 14 days of quarantine period. Besides that, the hotline connected affected clients and families to culturally and linguistically sensitive counseling services, when needed