Community service programs
Refugee Support
Long-term support for refugee families resettling in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, from school paperwork to stocked pantries.
60+families helped
Resettlement is one moment. Rebuilding is years.
MMY walks with refugee families across Murfreesboro and Rutherford County through the long work of starting over: translating school paperwork, stocking pantries, finding pediatricians, and being the people who answer the phone when a hard week hits.
We work alongside local partners, including the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition.
What we do
MMY's refugee work has helped dozens of families with basic needs, language, driver's licenses, and jobs. Through Roots for Refugees, our team has welcomed new refugee families to Murfreesboro.
In 2022 we began English as a Second Language classes at the MMY Center with Read To Succeed, and our team speaks more than nine languages between them.
Among the ways we helped, MMY distributed more than 50 bikes to refugee children in Murfreesboro.
Our step-by-step approach
Step 1
Initial support
When a family first arrives through a resettlement agency, we connect with them, visit, and gather basic information. We provide urgent essentials such as food, clothing, personal care items, toiletries, and health connections, along with guidance on their home and neighborhood. Many of these items are collected in advance, and others are purchased when necessary.
Step 2
Household setup
Once the family is placed in an apartment, we assess their household needs and help provide furniture, appliances, and other essentials to make their home comfortable and functional. This may include kitchen supplies, a microwave, vacuum, washer and dryer, rugs, or a television. Items are usually gathered peer to peer within the community, and we keep a small storage unit for overflow.
Step 3
Building independence
Our focus then shifts to equipping families with the tools for self-sufficiency: language support, transportation and shopping orientation, driving school, health system guidance, bill payment orientation, education navigation, and job placement support.
Step 4
Continued guidance
For up to 90 days, we stay in regular contact to provide non-financial support, helping families navigate daily life and build confidence in their new home. A paired family or volunteer group often helps during this stage. Financial assistance is provided only in true emergencies, and overall support is limited to six months per family.
To make sure resources are shared fairly and responsibly, we set financial limits based on each family's income and bank balance.
Highlights over the years
- 2021
Roots for Refugees welcomed new refugee families to Murfreesboro.
- 2022
ESL classes started at the MMY Center in partnership with Read To Succeed.
Questions
Is MMY's refugee support program active right now?
It is currently on hold. New refugee arrivals to our area have stopped, so we have paused resettlement support and will resume when families begin arriving again.
How can newcomers get help from MMY now?
Newcomers who need food or emergency help can still reach us at 615-640-0502 or admin@murfreesboromuslimyouth.org, or through our Get help page. Our team speaks more than nine languages.
How can I help when the program resumes?
We will need drivers, tutors, interpreters, and household donations. Sign up for our weekly updates to hear when refugee support restarts, and give monthly through Dollar4Change to support families in need today.
More answers on our FAQ page.
Get involved
While the program is on hold, you can still support families through our food security and crisis assistance programs. Sign up for our weekly updates to hear when refugee support resumes.