‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25
Our church has always been a very generous home. We offer support to local charities, like Tap-In and John’s Meals and we have a tradition of providing holiday gift cards to members of our parish and local families in need, and we sponsor other fundraisers, like the Silent Auction to support those in crisis, in addition to engaging in more playful things like the Souper Bowl. We give money so that parish children can attend camp and give generously to Episcopal Charities.
What we are embarking on as ONE new ministry is the sponsorship of a refugee family from a war-torn or famine-ravaged area in the Middle East or Africa. As with most of these undertakings, we are requesting NO money from the church budget: no pledge, donation, or investment income will be used for this charity. It is important to note that the Bishop is fully committed to this ministry and has asked us to document what we do to serve as a model for other parishes in the state.
The U.N. has stated that never, in its history of recording famines, wars, and forced migration, has it seen such desperate need and such high numbers of refugees resulting from drought and crop failure, or from long-term conflicts and wars that destroy communities and upend tens of thousands of families who remain homeless and stateless for years, even decades.
We are a group of interested and concerned parishioners who have been in touch with Dorcas International, the clearing house for refugees in Rhode Island. More than 50% of those who enter as refugees are children. Many of the households are headed by women. ALL of them have been thoroughly vetted for more than two years. Some of these families have been in camps for much, much longer than that. Dorcas provides the backbone for all that happens for each family. They see that they get the support they need to adjust and social security cards so that they can work. They offer day care and ESL classes and assist in job placement and with immediate medical care.
What WE do is to help them get settled and provide them with the basics, like housing and clothing (since most will come with only the shirts on their backs) and household items, like towels, linens and dishes, plus school supplies for children and the most necessary furniture. We help them learn how to navigate, use public transportation, locate a laundromat, set up a checking account, assist children with schoolwork, and show adults how and where to shop for food. We give them opportunities to practice and hone their English. We hope to link them with local charitable groups, like Tap-In, and Literacy Volunteers. The goal of all refugee settlement is to have the family become self-sufficient as soon as possible. Dorcas asks us to be engaged for anywhere from four months to a year. We hope to be prepared to offer that support and expect that the family will wish to be on their own as quickly as they can adjust.
How will we raise money? We are setting up a registry, much as a young couple does when they get engaged or friends do when someone is expecting a child. It is online at MyRegistry.com. Some of you may prefer to shop at a nearby store and purchase things as modest but essential as soap or dishwashing liquid. Everything helps! These families arrive here with nothing. In addition, we will have a Go Fund Me crowd sourcing website where people can donate toward rent, utilities, or food, or gift cards the family can use for clothing or groceries.
Yours in Christ,
Alice Cross, Sally Easton
Core Committee
(Come join us!)
How To Donate to Saints Matthew and Mark’s Refugee Support Effort
To purchase something from the Gift Registry, follow these directions:
Go to MyRegistry.com.
Do a Search for an existing registry.
1. At the very top, above where you type in the name, there will be three boxes:
Check off the one that says Organization/Non-Profit.
2. First Name: Saints M and M
3. Last Name: Refugee Support
4. Password: Refugee2017
You should then see all the items. Select whatever you’d like, using any credit card. It will be mailed to: Alice Cross. 25 4th St. Barrington, RI 02806. She is collecting the presents on behalf of the church ministry. We will send you a thank you with information for your taxes.
If you are local and not computer savvy, but would like to contribute:
Simply go to a local store and purchase any of the following: laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, paper towels, tissues, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes for children & adults, a hair brush or two, razors, shaving cream, soap, sponges, household cleaners like Windex or Murphy’s Soap, plastic hangers, a spatula or two, toilet bowl cleaner, etc.
Or, simplest of all, you can write a check:
Saints Matthew and Mark Episcopal Church and note on the memo line: Refugee Support.
Again, we will send you a note with tax information.
Saints Matthew & Mark Episcopal Church, 5 Chapel Rd. Barrington, RI 02806
Our church has always been a very generous home. We offer support to local charities, like Tap-In and John’s Meals and we have a tradition of providing holiday gift cards to members of our parish and local families in need, and we sponsor other fundraisers, like the Silent Auction to support those in crisis, in addition to engaging in more playful things like the Souper Bowl. We give money so that parish children can attend camp and give generously to Episcopal Charities.
What we are embarking on as ONE new ministry is the sponsorship of a refugee family from a war-torn or famine-ravaged area in the Middle East or Africa. As with most of these undertakings, we are requesting NO money from the church budget: no pledge, donation, or investment income will be used for this charity. It is important to note that the Bishop is fully committed to this ministry and has asked us to document what we do to serve as a model for other parishes in the state.
The U.N. has stated that never, in its history of recording famines, wars, and forced migration, has it seen such desperate need and such high numbers of refugees resulting from drought and crop failure, or from long-term conflicts and wars that destroy communities and upend tens of thousands of families who remain homeless and stateless for years, even decades.
We are a group of interested and concerned parishioners who have been in touch with Dorcas International, the clearing house for refugees in Rhode Island. More than 50% of those who enter as refugees are children. Many of the households are headed by women. ALL of them have been thoroughly vetted for more than two years. Some of these families have been in camps for much, much longer than that. Dorcas provides the backbone for all that happens for each family. They see that they get the support they need to adjust and social security cards so that they can work. They offer day care and ESL classes and assist in job placement and with immediate medical care.
What WE do is to help them get settled and provide them with the basics, like housing and clothing (since most will come with only the shirts on their backs) and household items, like towels, linens and dishes, plus school supplies for children and the most necessary furniture. We help them learn how to navigate, use public transportation, locate a laundromat, set up a checking account, assist children with schoolwork, and show adults how and where to shop for food. We give them opportunities to practice and hone their English. We hope to link them with local charitable groups, like Tap-In, and Literacy Volunteers. The goal of all refugee settlement is to have the family become self-sufficient as soon as possible. Dorcas asks us to be engaged for anywhere from four months to a year. We hope to be prepared to offer that support and expect that the family will wish to be on their own as quickly as they can adjust.
How will we raise money? We are setting up a registry, much as a young couple does when they get engaged or friends do when someone is expecting a child. It is online at MyRegistry.com. Some of you may prefer to shop at a nearby store and purchase things as modest but essential as soap or dishwashing liquid. Everything helps! These families arrive here with nothing. In addition, we will have a Go Fund Me crowd sourcing website where people can donate toward rent, utilities, or food, or gift cards the family can use for clothing or groceries.
Yours in Christ,
Alice Cross, Sally Easton
Core Committee
(Come join us!)
How To Donate to Saints Matthew and Mark’s Refugee Support Effort
To purchase something from the Gift Registry, follow these directions:
Go to MyRegistry.com.
Do a Search for an existing registry.
1. At the very top, above where you type in the name, there will be three boxes:
Check off the one that says Organization/Non-Profit.
2. First Name: Saints M and M
3. Last Name: Refugee Support
4. Password: Refugee2017
You should then see all the items. Select whatever you’d like, using any credit card. It will be mailed to: Alice Cross. 25 4th St. Barrington, RI 02806. She is collecting the presents on behalf of the church ministry. We will send you a thank you with information for your taxes.
If you are local and not computer savvy, but would like to contribute:
Simply go to a local store and purchase any of the following: laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, paper towels, tissues, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes for children & adults, a hair brush or two, razors, shaving cream, soap, sponges, household cleaners like Windex or Murphy’s Soap, plastic hangers, a spatula or two, toilet bowl cleaner, etc.
Or, simplest of all, you can write a check:
Saints Matthew and Mark Episcopal Church and note on the memo line: Refugee Support.
Again, we will send you a note with tax information.
Saints Matthew & Mark Episcopal Church, 5 Chapel Rd. Barrington, RI 02806