Get Involved

A Circle of Welcome team is a group of 6-8 volunteers that commit to walking alongside a new family for their first 6 months in the United States.

You can form a team or request to be placed on a team. As a team, you will work alongside Canopy staff to furnish a new household, provide a hot meal, and serve as a new family’s first friends. Learn more about what Circle of Welcome here.

As a Circle of Welcome team, you will commit to working alongside a new arrival through the following:

Canopy will provide extensive training on how to become a Circle of Welcome to our new neighbors.

As a team, you will commit to working alongside a new arrival through the following steps:

• Airport Pick Up: At least 1 person from your team goes to the airport to welcome the new family.
• Move-in: Team commits to help gather furniture and move it to the new home and furnish the home as needed.
• Groceries: Team commits to providing a hot meal upon arrival and at least 3 days of groceries.
• Fundraising: Team commits to raising $1,200 to go towards resettlement costs.
• Other Ways You Will Help: Help with transportation, communication, cultural orientation, and friendship for 6 months!

Our refugee families arrive in Arkansas with very little, and your support can make a significant difference in helping them rebuild their lives here in NWA.

Consider putting together a Canopy Welcome Kit by purchasing items from the Welcome Kits Lists.
See the full “How to Make a Welcome Kit in 3 Easy Steps” video below.

What furniture does Canopy take?

• Bed frames, twin and full
• Box springs, twin and full
• Dressers
• Kitchen/dining tables and chairs
• Nightstands and side tables
• Coffee tables
• Couches (please, no sleepers or recliners)

Regretfully, Canopy cannot accept:

• Mattresses
• Broken, torn, or badly damaged items
• Items with strong odors
• Sleeper or recliner sofas or chairs

We deeply value the support from community groups hosting Welcome Kit drives! If your workplace, school, neighborhood, civic, faith, or friend group is interested in contributing, please contact John Wilson or call us at 479-717-7358. Your collective effort makes a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve.