--- title: "European Refugee Crisis: 7 Things You Can Do to Help" description: As the refugee and migrant crisis grows in Europe, Catholic Relief Services and their partners like Caritas are there on the ground, providing assistance to families in need. Kim Pozniak of CRS shares --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/09/11/european-refugee-crisis-7-things-you-can-do-to-help#) # European Refugee Crisis: 7 Things You Can Do to Help Sep 11, 2015 5:27:12 PM  |  by [Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/catholic-relief-services) As the refugee and migrant crisis grows in Europe, Catholic Relief Services and our partners like Caritas are there on the ground, providing assistance to families in need. As the difficult images fill the news, many people and parishes have asked what they can do to help. Here are seven tangible actions you can take to make a difference in the lives of people who have left their homes behind due to violent and difficult situations. ## 1. Learn More The more you learn about this crisis, the more you’ll understand its underlying causes and can spread the word. Continued warfare in Syria, and violence in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, has contributed to the surge of refugees from those countries, while deteriorating economic conditions in places like Sub-Saharan Africa has led people to Europe in search of a better life. [![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/euro_migrant_info_graphic3-01_450_px.jpg?width=450&height=300&name=euro_migrant_info_graphic3-01_450_px.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/euro_migrant_info_graphic3-01_1.png) Here are some good resources for you. - [CRS’ support of Syrian refugees](http://www.crs.org/media-center/current-issues/syrian-refugees) - [The Washington Post features 6 Syrians making the journey to Europe](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/09/07/six-syrians-on-the-hardest-part-of-their-journey-to-europe/) - [Refugee or Migrant? (From the United Nations High Commission on Refugees)](http://www.unhcr.org/55df0e556.html) ## 2. Donate One of the best ways to help is through donating to accredited nonprofit organizations that are responding to the crisis. More than 90 percent of money donated to CRS goes directly to people in need. [Donate now](http://donate.crs.org/migrantcrisis). ## 3. Fundraise ![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/srb2015108923_350px.jpg?width=350&height=233&name=srb2015108923_350px.jpg) CRS partner Caritas distributes hygiene kits to refugees passing through Belgrade, Serbia. Photo by Kari Horvath for CRS You can provide direct assistance by setting up a page to raise money to support our emergency efforts. Your support will ensure that we can provide immediate assistance, including food, water, access to sanitation, legal services and medical care. [Set up your own fundraising page](http://raisemoney.crs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ddpf_DD_Reus_Featured_Emergency). ## 4. Advocate CRS is calling on the United States to continue and expand humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees, especially to countries in the Middle East, that have for years been sheltering the largest number of Syrians and Iraqis, as well as to countries burdened by this new migration. Most importantly, the United States should lead concerted diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in Syria. [Read more](https://secure.crs.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=CCC97116D35B1A7F2BAAF109DC12B546.app203b?pagename=homepage&id=908) about how our nation's leaders can respond to the crisis, and [write a letter](https://secure.crs.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=908&AddInterest=1881) urging them to take up the cause. ## 5. Use Social Media ![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/srb2015108925_fb_meme_350.jpg?width=350&height=242&name=srb2015108925_fb_meme_350.jpg) Follow and retweet [@CatholicRelief](https://twitter.com/CatholicRelief),[@CRSNews](https://twitter.com/CRSnews), [@CBrennanCRS](https://twitter.com/CBrennanCRS),[@KimPoz](https://twitter.com/KimPoz) and [@ngamer19](https://twitter.com/ngamer19) on Twitter for the latest updates on the[#RefugeeCrisis](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23refugeecrisis&src=typd) that’s reached Europe. Also, [share this image](http://on.fb.me/1igFPLT) on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. ## 6. Pray Pray for protection for refugees—particularly those fleeing Northern Africa for Europe—as well as for personal transformation as we face the needs of refugees everywhere, by using this [Prayer for Refugees](http://www.crs.org/resource-center/moment-grace-prayer-refugees). ## 7. Support Refugees in the United States ![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gre2015108935_fb_350px.jpg?width=350&height=233&name=gre2015108935_fb_350px.jpg) In northern Greece, refugees make their way to Macedonian border. Photo courtesy of Matthieu Alexandre/Caritas Internationalis Although CRS works exclusively overseas, there are many ways to help refugees in the United States through organizations such as [Migration and Refugee Services](http://www.usccb.org/about/resettlement-services/index.cfm), your local [Catholic Charities](http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/get-involved) or by volunteering to help refugees in your own area through local refugee resettlement centers. * Copyright 2015 Kim Pozniak, Catholic Relief Services* *Images copyright Catholic Relief Services, used with permission* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F09%2F11%2Feuropean-refugee-crisis-7-things-you-can-do-to-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F09%2F11%2Feuropean-refugee-crisis-7-things-you-can-do-to-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F09%2F11%2Feuropean-refugee-crisis-7-things-you-can-do-to-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=European%20Refugee%20Crisis%3A%207%20Things%20You%20Can%20Do%20to%20Help) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F09%2F11%2Feuropean-refugee-crisis-7-things-you-can-do-to-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F09%2F11%2Feuropean-refugee-crisis-7-things-you-can-do-to-help%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CRS.jpg) ### [Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/catholic-relief-services) Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. We are the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Caritas International and the National Catholic Development Conference. Find us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CatholicReliefServices), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/CatholicRelief), [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/catholicrelief), [Google Plus](https://plus.google.com/104550074809687046792/posts) and [Pinterest](http://www.pinterest.com/catholicrelief/). ## Related Blog Articles [ Colombian Refugees in Ecuador: CRS Photo of the Month Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/02/01/colombian-refugees-ecuador-crs-photo-month) [ CRS and the Good Shepherd Sisters Caring for Syria's Refugees in Lebanon Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/03/04/crs-and-the-good-shepherd-sisters-caring-for-syrias-refugees-in-lebanon) [ CRS launches Celtic Park Haiti Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/09/09/crs-launches-celtic-park-haiti) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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