The Refugee Response empowers resettled families to grow roots, supporting them in becoming engaged, self-sufficient and contributing members of their new communities.

The Refugee Response was founded in 2009 by two local Clevelanders, Mr. Paul Neundorfer and Mr. David Wallis. In 2010 ground was broken on the Ohio City Farm in Cleveland’s Historic West Side and the Refugee Response began to recruit mentors to support refugee students, established the REAP program and began to sell organically farmed fresh produce to some of Cleveland’s best restaurants. Now the Refugee Response supports over 700 newcomers each year, provides opportunities for hundreds of Clevelanders to mentor and volunteer and supports over 25% of the annual budget from farm sales.

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