Operation Refuge

Mission: To empower individuals and families by providing essential resources, fostering resilience, and building pathways to a brighter future

Operation Refuge is a non-profit organization that helps out surrounding communities by providing food and services to families in need. The organization’s main goals are to address community needs, unite the Inkster community and provide meaningful opportunities to low-to-moderate income youth, adults and families. Operation Refuge takes great pride in partnering with outstanding allies who spearhead transformative change within our communities. United, we are creating a significant impact on families, neighborhoods, our county, and the state, nurturing a brighter future for everyone.

The organization has 4 flagship programs: Mother’s Pantry, Camp Inspire, Scholarships, Leaders in Training. Mother’s Pantry program is a client-choice pantry without borders. Instead of handing out boxes of food, Operation Refuge allows clients to choose their own food which helps them meet their personal dietary needs. Through valuable partnerships with Gleaner’s, Zaman International and Forgotten Harvest, the pantry well-stocked with healthy food on a weekly basis. Camp Inspire had been a three-week STEAM summer camp for girls in 5th-12th grades. We are now a year long program with the RCW grant, participants learn how to code, participate in STEM labs and become empowered to pursue a future in STEM fields. The gender gap in STEM fields is wide and Camp Inspire works to lessen it while bringing opportunity to girls of color. Past camp graduates have gone on to pursue Nursing degrees, and some have returned as camp counselors to empower the next generation of STEAM leaders. Each year Operation Refuge, through generous donations, is able to provide scholarships to outstanding students. It is the duty of our dedicated Scholarship Committee to determine the most outstanding individuals to receive these awards