Matthew 25: 34-36, 40
…. I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me…Truly I tell you, just as you did [this] to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.
Hebrews 13: 2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Welcome to First Church’s effort to resettle a refugee family into our community. This project is the keystone to our church’s three-year Global Mission Church plan to expand and deepen our commitment to mission around the world.
Resettlement Committee: Joan Pritchard, Sally D’Alessandro, Ednalou Ballard, Deb Luppino and Patti Pitkin
Volunteer!
We have a refugee family due to arrive soon. Many hands are needed for the month of March. You can help:
• Welcome the family at the airport
• Donate needed household furnishings, clothing and other items
• Fix up and set up the apartment
• Join the roster of drivers who will drive the family to daily appointments every day in March
• Teach the family how to ride the bus, grocery shop, do banking and learn cultural customs
• Find employment for the family
Contact Joan Pritchard with your ideas, questions, offers of help and offers of donated items. Check the documents posted below for details on how you can help. Also, look for us at our table at coffee hour every Sunday!
CHURCH RESETTLEMENT FORUM: Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. worship and at coffee hour.
Come hear Chris George, executive director of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) of New Haven, explain the resettlement process and answer our questions.
OUR FAMILY ARRIVES! Thursday, March 11 or Friday, March 12
Our family is from Iraq and has been living in Jordan for more than ten years. The parents have four children who are high school age and older: two older sons and two younger daughters. They are all highly educated. They speak some English and the father speaks very good English.
Helpful Documents
Click here for a list of committees and tasks for which you can volunteer. Click here for a list of household furnishings and items that you can donate. Click here for an article about a New Haven refugee family (Nov. 2007)
Resettlement Q&A
What is a refugee?
Refugees are people who have left their homeland because of persecution due to religious beliefs, political views or racial or ethnic background. They believe they can no longer return home. Of the millions of refugees worldwide, only 80,000 a year are allowed to settle in the USA. Half of all current world-wide refugees come from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Are refugees screened?
Refugees coming to our country have been interviewed several times by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. After applying for admission to the USA, they are interviewed again and are subjected to background checks and a medical exam. Refugees granted admission to the USA are fully documented and are invited by the U.S. Government to resettle here.
What agency will we work with?
We will enter a co-sponsorship agreement with Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) of New Haven, which is a program of the Episcopal Diocese of CT and Church World Service. We will be assigned a case worker and will be guided every step of the way. If we struggle with any task, they can step in and help. The executive director Chris George will be here on Sunday, March 7, 2010 during and after worship to explain the process and answer questions.
What are we expected to do and provide?
The purpose of resettlement is to get a family adjusted and independent as soon as possible. Our tasks will include: meet the family at the airport; find permanent housing and provide basic furnishings; provide food, clothing, basic living needs and expenses as needed; assist the family in finding medical treatment, obtaining SS card, finding jobs, learning English, learning how to handle finances, getting a driver’s license, where to shop, how to navigate transportation systems, helping with homework, how to deal with American culture. We do not pay for the refugee’s transportation to the USA and are not responsible for their debts nor are we liable for their legal issues. Temporary health insurance is provided by Medicaid. Various committees will be set up to handle all of the areas of assistance.
How long will the resettlement process take?
The process will take no longer than a year. Since the goal is to achieve independence, we may find that “our” family will eventually choose to move on and live elsewhere, perhaps closer to other family or their own ethnic community. This is a sign of our success. Some may choose to leave very quickly and we need to respect their decision. Others choose to stay.
How much will this cost?
The costs are unknown at this point, but our church has a generous fund of $12,000 left from the three previous resettlement projects. This should be sufficient and we won’t have to raise funds.
When will our family arrive?
Our family is due to arrive in Farmington very late in the day on Thursday, March 11 or possibly the next day.
Will our family be Christian?
We have already been assigned a family and they are Muslims. We will be guided in their religious and cultural customs by our own Muslim scholar Jane Smith. She can also help us with questions we have about Islam in general.
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