Catholic Charities’ Refugee Services is joining forces with T-Mobile to support current refugee clients living in the Des Moines area. Refugee clients will receive 200 home internet gateways and 24 months of WiFi services from T-Mobile.
Catholic Charities’ Refugee Services staff and T-Mobile will be distributing the WiFi gateway devices to current Catholic Charities refugee clients on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the Catholic Pastoral Center (601 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309) in downtown Des Moines.
Catholic Charities is grateful for the new collaboration with T-Mobile and the impact it will have on those the organization serves. The ability to access the internet at home has become a necessity in American culture. T-Mobile is fulfilling a growing need among Catholic Charities’ refugee clients and helping them better adjust to life in their new community.
“We are extremely grateful for T-Mobile and their support of our refugee clients,” said Dema Abu-Assaf, Catholic Charities Refugee Services Program Manager. “Having access to WiFi will greatly support our clients for their work, school and overall help them better connect to their new community.”
Catholic Charities’ Refugee Services works through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the State of Iowa to resettle refugees who have family or close friends currently living in the Des Moines area. The organization has been independently resettling refugees since 2010 and has seen a steady increase in arrivals over the last few years. In the organization’s last fiscal year, Catholic Charities’ Refugee Services welcomed more than 225 refugees and the organization expects to double that number by this time next year.
For more information on Catholic Charities’ Refugee Program and how to get involved, visit catholiccharitiesdm.org/our-services/refugee-services.
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About Catholic Charities, Diocese of Des Moines
Founded in 1924, Catholic Charities, Des Moines Diocese, is dedicated to offering help and hope to those in need throughout central and southwest Iowa. Catholic Charities, a United Way agency, provides individual and family counseling, food pantry, refugee resettlement services, domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault shelter and services, family emergency shelter, and more. Facilities include Catholic Charities Emergency Family Shelter, Catholic Charities Food Pantry, and Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program in Council Bluffs, IA. For information about Catholic Charities of Des Moines, its programs, and services, please visit www.catholiccharitiesdm.org.
Media Contacts
Bobbi Jo Smith, Director of Development & Marketing, Catholic Charities
bsmith@catholiccharitiesdm.org; 515-237-5064
Kendall Begnoche, Marketing Manager, Catholic Charities
kbegnoche@catholiccharitiesdm.org; 515-237-5022