Refugee & Resettlement Ministries

Our Mission: To support the efforts being made to alleviate the refugee crisis in the world, the Refugee Committee will partner with Lutheran Community Services and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.

The ministry was established to respond with compassion to the more than 60 million people who have found themselves displaced by persecution, violence, and disasters around the world. We support the efforts being made to alleviate the refugee crisis through education, advocacy, and action. We have partnered with Lutheran Community Services to support their efforts to resettle refugees and will work to welcome refugee families into our community.

REFUGEE AND RESETTLEMENT STARTER KIT DRIVE

Most refugees arrive in the United States with next to nothing, but you can help them rebuild their lives by putting together Starter Kits. HSLC Refugee Resettlement Committee is sponsoring a collection drive for refugees. They will build cleaning kits and bathroom kits from the donations you share.

There is an expected increase of refugees from June through September.

Please bring your NEW items to the Fellowship Hall through Sunday, June 18th.

Items requested:

Cleaning supplies - mop and bucket, broom and dustpan, pack of sponges, all-purpose cleaning spray, toilet brush, dish soap, laundry

detergent, package of 4-6 light bulbs, 2 rolls of paper towels, 2 boxes of tissues

Bathroom supplies - bath towels (4), washcloths (4), shower curtain, shower curtain rings, hand soap, 6-pack of toilet paper, small waste

basket.

You do not have to purchase a whole "kit" - everyone's donations will be grouped together to make the kits. Questions? Contact Judy Abdo at abdofam@gmail.com.

History

On January 31st, 2016, HSLC made an overwhelming vote of affirmation to

• Support the efforts being made to alleviate the refugee crisis in the world

• Establish a subcommittee of the Social Justice Committee called the Refugee Committee

• Engage with Lutheran Community Services as a partner agency

We have met regularly since that date to learn, plan, and welcome refugee families.

Resources to learn more about refugees

Local

• Lutheran Community Services Northwest (Refugee and Immigrant Services)

• ReWA (Refugee Women’s Alliance)

• ERIC: Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition

• Welcome Home Refugees (this link takes you to a Facebook group discussing refugee issues in the Seattle area)

• International Rescue Committee in Seattle

National and International

• UNHCR: (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees)

• UNIOM (United Nations Internal Organization for Migration)

• UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees)

• USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services)

• Department of State, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

• Office of Refugee Resettlement (Dept. of Health and Human Services)

• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS)

• Refugees Deeply

US Resettlement Agencies

• Church World Service (CWS)

• Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC)

• Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM)

• Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)

• International Rescue Committee (IRC)

• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS)

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

• World Relief Corporation (WR)

Books

• See a list of 12 amazing books for children here

• See a list of books the Social Justice Committee's Global Ministry Team recommends here

Videos from LIRS

• Create a Culture of Welcome

• LIRS Employment Video

• Help Make a Home

Videos on YouTube

• The Bhutanese Refugee Journey - A Seattle Story

• From Refugee to Global Diplomat

Videos on Frontline (PBS)

• Lost in Detention - The impact of deportation and detention policies of the current administration

• The Regime - a profile of Bashar al-Assad

• Syria Undercover - 2011, an inside look at the opposition movement

• The Battle for Syria - 2012, Syria's rebel leaders

• Syria Behind the Lines - 2013, inside the lives of rebels, government soldiers, and civilians

• Syria's Second Front - 2014, rebel forces, the Assad regime, and Al Qaeda

• Syria: Arming the Rebels - 2014, a look at possible US involvement in the rebel movement

• Inside Assad's Syria - 2014, first-hand accounts from those who haven't been able to flee Syria

• The Rise of ISIS - 2014, US involvement in Iraq and the rise of ISIS

• Children of ISIS - 2015, Iraqi and Syrian boy soldiers recruited and trained by ISIS

• Escaping ISIS - 2015, women who escaped from ISIS and the underground network that helps them

Video from Al Jazeera

• I am a Syrian Child

Video from Vice

• They Aren't Just "Migrants," They're Refugees

What can you do today? Or tomorrow?

• Lutheran Community Services NW is helping resettle refugee families in the North end.  They especially need pillows, mops and brooms, but can use anything on the Amazon “wish list” that they have set up. Please send wish list items to this address: Teddie Newhouse, Humanitarian, 14813 24th Ave SE, Mill Creek, WA. 98012

• Volunteer at local agencies that work with refugees:  Hopelink, Friends of Youth, Libraries, food banks, ReWA, Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition and more!

• Join our Committee….there are lots of upcoming projects :)

• Educate yourself further about the refugees in our area and the greater situation in the world.

• Pray for refugees…check the LIRS site: https://www.lirs.org/prayers-immigrants-refugees