Service Project ALERT–Church World Service

It’s all we see in the news these days…the refugee crisis, Syria, Iraq, the list goes on.  What can we do with all of that overwhelming amount of information?  Allow me to tell you of a wonderful organization right here in Lancaster city that will give you a tangible way to make a difference in at least one refugee’s life.  Church World Service has a refugee resettlement office, one aspect of their organization, that helps incoming legal refugees get established once they arrive.  Services include obtaining housing, household furnishings, employment assistance, tutoring for ESL, medical support, and the list goes on.  Earlier in the year, my husband and I became certified to be a welcome family for a new refugee family, among other volunteer opportunities with CWS.  We were matched with a Somalian family that has one toddler and speaks English fairly well.  Although challenging to initially connect, we have had the privilege of stepping inside their world as they adjust to their new life in the United States.  Living just 15 minutes from me, I am always amazed how I feel as though I have flown halfway around the world as I sit in her tiny kitchen in a part of the city I stand out in.  I have involved my children, and it has been wonderful for them to experience it along with me.  This has been a different kind of “day trip” for us, exposing us to a world of need, and yet a blessing to be able to make some small difference on an issue we constantly hear about.

They are always in need of volunteers and there are so many types of projects you can do.  Everything from donating supplies, driving refugees to appointments, being a friend as a welcome family, driving and playing with kids while women meet to learn cooking lessons, tutoring, and much more! Right now they have a record number of refugees they are welcoming and have an urgent need for many household items and furniture.  Please contact them if you have any of the following to give: