Week 2 flew by. I still feel like it’s Wednesday night. My colleagues dubbed this week a regular CRIS “chaos week.” Things got delayed, reliable systems let us down, and plans didn’t work out, yet we still got all our work done and excelled in our service delivery. Amidst all the chaos, the team remained composed, and each day, I left in awe of our organization’s adaptability.

Although my summer work centers on food security, I support our broader programming when needed. This week, our housing team needed help moving a family into their new home, so I saw firsthand one of our refugee families’ most critical transition periods. I loved the opportunity to collaborate on the arrival and watch the family settle into their long-term home, and I can’t wait to assist with more in the future. There is something so special in seeing all this work come together and be involved in such a big step for these families as they integrate into Central Ohio. CRIS’s work in the community is impressive, and like I said last week, I am so thankful to work for an organization dedicated to this line of service.

I also got to help our resettlement team by taking a family to their health screening and setting up their Wi-Fi. While I am not great with technology, I managed to figure out how to set the system up, and I left the home with a deep sense of fulfillment. Working in nonprofits allows you continuous opportunities to serve, and I don’t have words to describe the immense satisfaction it gives me. When you spend an entire morning with a family, focusing solely on their needs, helping them with everything they need, and seeing their gratitude, you can’t feel anything but satisfaction.

Along with the program support, I also went to the food pantry this week to drop boxes off to families in need, and I practiced calling food banks to reserve orders for pick-up the next day. Also, like last week, I got to take another family to the grocery store. Following our grocery run, they invited me in for tea, so I got to share tea with them and learn more about their lives and the process they went through to come to the United States as refugees. Many families we support invite us in for tea/juice or food, and it’s incredible to see how kind and welcoming they are — they always reciprocate our energy and want to give back to us as much as we give to them. Every refugee I have talked to loves Columbus, and they all act with a desire to give back to the community that welcomed them and gave them a safe, secure home to live in.

In spite of this week’s chaos, our teams adapted to find new solutions, and we chipped away at our problems instead of giving up. I love my organization’s mindset and can’t wait to see what challenges await us next week!