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Refugee families arrive in Delaware, organizations flock to support them

Delaware Public Media

At least four refugee families are expected to arrive in the First State over the next 30 days, with the first, from Ukraine, arriving Tuesday.

Another family from Syria is slated to arrive in the next 30 days, along with families from Iraq and Pakistan.

As of Tuesday, six total families will be coming to Delaware in the near future. Two of those are reunification cases, meaning they’ll be reunited with family members already living in the First State.

 

Jewish Family Services of Delaware hired a volunteer coordinator – Sarah Green - to make sure incoming refugee families have what they need.

 

Green says around 150 individuals from 24 faith-based organizations and a few other groups have signed on to help, and she’s now working to team them up in ways that tap into each group’s strengths.

 

“Typically an organization is going to have a strong suit," Green said. "So maybe that organization has a lot of possibilities of donated furniture or clothing, whereas another organization might have more cultural resources.”

 

For an incoming Syrian family, Green has paired the Islamic Society of Delaware with the Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church.

 

The Islamic Society of Delaware found the family’s apartment and is stocking the refrigerator with culturally appropriate foods.

 

The Islamic Society of Delaware's Board Member Ali Khan is Committee Chair for Syrian refugee resettlement efforts in Delaware, and says his organization will also provide translation services when needed. But beyond the necessities, Khan hopes to offer the family a sense of community.

 

“We can give them the emotional connection, because we can introduce them to the people who are from the same region, who speak the same region, who eat the same food," Khan said. "Our community members are so eager and so happy to meet this family and bring them into their home for lunch, dinner, things like that.”

 

Ken Page is leading the Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church’s efforts to assist resettling the Syrian family, which includes furnishing the family’s apartment.

 

“We’re adding more and more volunteers," Page said. "There’s a lot of passion around this project, where we have now about 30 volunteers who’ve signed up from our church.”

 

Page said his church community arranged everything necessary for the apartment in just three weeks, and has raised over $1,000 for the family.

 

Page added one 92-year-old woman purchased all the kitchen supplies needed from her retirement community’s white elephant sale with the help of some friends.

Those interested in assisting incoming refugee families should contact Jewish Family Services of Delaware.

 

 
 
 

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