Even as a little girl, I wanted to be of help in the most hands-on way possible. I hated to see others suffer, and I knew early on that I wanted to be a nurse. It’s that same desire to help that has led me to write this petition today.

The refugee crisis caused by the conflicts in the Middle East is heartbreaking. The images on the news of families who have been traveling for months, pushing forward against all odds in hopes of a better life -- they make one feel so helpless. The U.S. government has agreed to accept a small number of these people, but it’s just a drop in the bucket.

We don’t have to be helpless. The Canadian government has set up a system whereby groups of private citizens are permitted to raise money and sponsor a refugee family. For 12 months, the sponsors are responsible for the refugee family’s financial and social well-being. They do everything from picking up the family at the airport, to providing them with housing, food and even clothing. The Canadian private refugee sponsorship program lets citizens play a larger role in the resettlement program. It also takes some of the financial burden of refugee resettlement off the taxpayers.

This crisis calls for such innovation, and the US government should follow suit and create a similar program. Please join me in asking the State Department to allow private citizens and organizations to sponsor refugees, so that we as a nation can help save more people, even faster.  

When we rely solely on government-sponsored refugee relocation, we can only accept a very small pool of people in need. Even those people encounter roadblocks to success because of the minimal financial support they receive from the government. I believe there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Americans just like me who would be willing to make a year-long sacrifice in order to make a difference in the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable communities. A refugee in the midst of resettlement should have a community of people behind them who have a vested interest in their success as a new resident.

Let’s show our government and the world that we are ready to step up for a good cause.  Let’s ask the State Department to allow private citizens to sponsor refugee families. Together, we can make a greater impact.

Thank you.