Our Story

The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) is a faith-based movement meeting the changing needs of asylum seekers, refugees and at-risk immigrants in collaboration with others.

We respond to the needs as they present themselves and as they change.

We provide basic support to people on their journey.

We educate and advocate to change the systems that impact immigrants.

We pray in community.

The Interfaith Welcome Coalition came together in the summer of 2014 in response to the overwhelming need of unaccompanied children coming to the United States from Central America.

In response to the crisis, a broad network of faith communities & community organizations began working closely with a local legal nonprofit organization.

The work evolved and now the IWC collaborates with many other organizations serving refugees, asylum seekers, and at-risk immigrants and serves as advocates for the needs of these vulnerable populations.

Reverend Kelly Allen, founded and led IWC until her passing in 2016.

“As a pastor of San Antonio’s University Presbyterian Church, Allen helped form the Interfaith Welcome Coalition, a humanitarian response to the women and children fleeing deadly violence and poverty in Central America and seeking asylum in the United States.”

NowCastSA has compiled many videos and articles on Allen’s work with IWC here.

We currently help many asylum seekers. These are migrants who have begun their asylum application, and are still awaiting the official grant of asylum by a judge. The people we help usually come from Latin America and Africa (as of July 2019).

Recruit volunteers and provide funding for IWC service programs that serve the immigrant community.

Educate ourselves & others on immigration issues.

Allocate funds to provide material support for asylum seekers and at-risk immigrants.

Become aware of organizations which work with at-risk immigrants, collaborate with them and support their work.

Engage in advocacy activities related to migrant populations.

Bus Station Volunteer and IWC Board Member, Jan Olsen, describes a heartwarming interaction with migrants and Bus Station Volunteer, Darlene Kilpatrick, tells us about the Bus Station Ministry and What’s In a Backpack.