We're ready to roll for supporting a refugee family from Syria coming to the Middletown area!
You can help to build our common bonds of love with the world in Christ.
You can help to build our common bonds of love with the world in Christ.
Members of First UMC Middletown have been participating in planning meetings of the interfaith Middletown Refugee Resettlement Coalition for several weeks, now, and the time is coming quickly to help welcome a very special family from Syria to our community on May 11th. A preparation meeting with the coalition will be taking place shortly before their arrival. Your support will be critical to completing the picture of a smooth transition for these people to life in the United States.
This family is challenged not only by the crisis in Syria, but also by their own health and developmental issues, which can be explained privately. We are responsible for contributing to their immediate hospitality, so our support will be a very critical component of their successful arrival. Bill Collins (pictured above, far right) and Nancy Diehl (pictured above, far left) are our church point people for further information. We will have a signup list available in Sunday. Translators will be available as needed. Key needs include:
This family is challenged not only by the crisis in Syria, but also by their own health and developmental issues, which can be explained privately. We are responsible for contributing to their immediate hospitality, so our support will be a very critical component of their successful arrival. Bill Collins (pictured above, far right) and Nancy Diehl (pictured above, far left) are our church point people for further information. We will have a signup list available in Sunday. Translators will be available as needed. Key needs include:
- Getting to know the area - familiarizing the family with local resources and attractions, including things like getting a library card.
- Grocery shopping - learning the American system of shopping, and how to check out at a store using SNAP food benefits that will be available to the family initially.
- Laundry - navigating a local laundromat, using the machines, inserting money, etc.
- Post Office - writing to relatives overseas will be very important for this family, so knowing how to get and use overseas postage, manage packages, and other options will need support
- Mobile phone - If the family needs a new mobile phone, we will help them to acquire a prepaid phone; if they come with a phone that can operate in the U.S., we will assist with an appropriate SIM card. Explaining data and Internet options available will be important also.
- Photo ID/Driver's License -Helping the family to navigate the Deparment of Motor Vehicles for a photo ID or, if appropriate, a driver's license (they will be provided with Social Security ID separately).
