Join the Mission and Service Committee as we work to welcome the Haydar Thamer Zegher's family from Iraq. All apartment furniture and supplies have been identified. Thank you to the many people who stepped forward to help! Although we are anticipating a March arrival, there is still no definite arrival date.

Sister Marianne Comfort will speak to the congregation on Sunday, March 8th, following the 10 o'clock service. She will talk about the Refugee resettlement program, the unique circumstances facing Iraqi refugees and volunteer opportunities that are available for anyone interested in helping. If you are interested in helping in any of the following areas, please contact Barb Stanley at 785-4755. Sister Marianne recommends this resource to help us understand the Iraqi culture.

Refugee Resettlement Volunteer Opportunities

For Haydar Thamer Zegher?s family (wife and two young children)

Donations

• Collect furniture and household goods for the family
• Purchase airmail stationary and airmail stamps so that family can communicate with family back home
• Food to stock shelves and refrigerator before arrival
• Clothing Donations

Fund raising and Finance

• Raise money to cover some of family?s early expenses (security deposit, first couple of months? rent, utilities, food, bus passes)
• Receive cash donations
• Pay bills congregation agrees to cover
• Provide receipts for payments for family to Catholic Charities monthly
• Help family with finances (understanding bills, budgeting, banking, taxes

Hospitality

• Prepare announcement about family?s arrival for congregation
• Greet family at airport
• Visit family daily during first week and weekly after that for a couple of months
• Arrange socials (maybe a church supper to greet them)
• Arrange outings (mall, library, events, park, grocery store, discount clothing stores like Salvation Army)

Housing

• Set up apartment with donations before arrival
• Clean apartment, if needed
• Locate laundry and provide detergent and coins
• Educate family about use of appliances, heating/AC, smoke alarm, etc.

Transportation

• Provide truck/van to take furnishings to apartment
• Pick up family at airport
• Drive family to appointments, as arranged by Catholic Charities case manger
• Instruct family in use of the bus

Education and Employment Support

• English tutoring (helping with English class homework, informal conversation support)
• Babysitting while parents in ESL classes
• Job search support (along with Catholic Charities case manager -- offering assistance with finding a job, preparing resumes and preparing for interviews, accompanying refugee to job interviews in some cases, helping with on-the-job concerns once employed
• Helping locate job opportunities that match refugees? skills and education

Support for Future Refugees

• Professional mentors ? meeting one-on-one with a refugee with your professional background to help refugee develop a career pathway in the U.S.
• Assisting school-aged children with homework
• Locating landlords/apartments for future refugees
• Contacting employers about possible job opportunities for refugees