Our Story.

The journey of Refugee Hope Partners began in 2007 with the resilience of a Karen refugee family. The family was resettled in Raleigh, NC after spending 15 years in a refugee camp in Thailand. Upon arrival, they walked to the nearest church from their new home seeking fellowship and community. Despite the challenges of language and cultural differences, the church congregation warmly welcomed them and sought to create bridges of understanding and friendship. Michele Suffridge, who would later establish and direct Refugee Hope Partners, was a part of this church community and was deeply inspired by this family’s story.

The Karen family’s integration into the church set the stage for more families to follow. Initially, three families arrived, then seven, then ten, all settling in the same North Raleigh apartment complex. These refugees faced numerous challenges, from personal losses to health issues and job difficulties. We celebrate the resilience of these original families!

As this one church moved forward in welcoming and serving more families, other churches were independently doing the same thing. Soon, these disconnected groups partnered and collaborated - birthing an informal, organic ministry named Cedar Point Community Outreach (CPCO).

In 2016, a local Christian camp (New Life Camp) invited CPCO to become a program under their nonprofit umbrella and even provided critical funding for programming.

In March 2018, this ministry rebranded to Refugee Hope Partners (RHP) and officially launched as an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization with a staff of four. Since its inception, RHP has grown tremendously, serving more than 2,500 refugees representing 72 different countries in their journeys here.

The period from 2018 onward brought significant challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, RHP provided 13 hours a day of academic support and essential items like food and diapers to more than 100 refugee families. The fall of Afghanistan in 2021 resulted in hundreds of traumatized Afghans arriving in the city, requiring a bold response. Recent issues such as inflation and a lack of affordable housing have dispersed refugee families across a wider area than ever before.

Refugee Hope Partners has been able to meet these challenges and continue to grow because of the generosity of the city, church partners, and donors. This led to the establishment of RHP’s first Welcome Center in June of 2022. This vibrant space serves as a hub for programs and activities and is a symbol of welcome to newcomers! Refugee Hope Partners now serves more refugees dispersed throughout the region than living at that original North Raleigh Apartment Complex. This trend will only continue to grow.

The story of Refugee Hope Partners is a testament to God’s grace, the power of human connection, and the transformative impact of compassion and support. Many from the early refugee community have become U.S. citizens, homeowners, church leaders, college graduates, refugee advocates, members of the military, and entrepreneurs! Through dedicated support, RHP has helped these individuals rebuild their lives and thrive as active community members. Witnessing families go from “arriving to thriving” is a true joy and the heart of Refugee Hope Partners.