As we welcome the New Year, here is an update on our St. Paul’s collaboration with RefugeeNet in assisting the resettlement of 29 refugees from Africa and the Middle East through mid-January. The response from the St. Paul’s community and our various networks of family, friends, and colleagues has been such that it appears that we will be able to “adopt” one of the families (i.e., furnish and equip their apartment)!
This past Sunday I had the pleasure of meeting 6 of 7 of those who have arrived thus far! All are now residing in long-term housing, they are being connected with needed services, work authorizations are coming through, and the two children will start school on January 7th when local students head back to classes.
A Congolese family of 6 (parents and 4 young children) are expected to arrive early this week. Two additional large extended families (South Sudanese and Kurdish) are expected later this month, and a young South Sudanese man will be arriving in mid-January to join his aunt and two cousins who came a couple of weeks ago.
Thank you to everyone who has donated items or has offered to do so, and thank you very much for monetary donations as well! In addition to the items on the list (see link below), used functional cell phones will be needed. Also smart TVs would be much appreciated (and helpful as the new arrivals develop their English skills). Please let us know if you have access to these.
Also, if you would like to provide person-to-person support, there is a need for help with transportation to appointments, grocery shopping, bus/public transit training/practice, cell phone orientation, English language conversation and practice, etc. Please let us know if you’d like to learn more about volunteering to help with this important aspect of resettlement support.
As expected, finding appropriate housing has been a challenge. Two additional apartments/houses will be needed. If you happen to know anyone who has rental property—even short-term—and who would be willing to rent to a refugee family at an affordable rate (families will receive some public assistance in addition to the initial amount of expense money provided by the U.S. State Dept., and after they’ve been here the required amount of time, adults will be able to work), please let us know.
For FAQs, a list of needed items, and other ways to help, click here.
Please contact Joan Reese (jmreese@gmail.com) to find out more and sign up to receive progress updates.
