We recently participated in an Amazing Thanks Giving Welcome to America dinner for Syrian Refugees. We wanted to share some of the experiences from that night and ways that you can get involved to help. Here are a couple of stories from that night.
"Last night we had the privilege of hosting Syrian refugees at our office for a Thanksgiving dinner. These people have experienced the absolute worst of what this world can offer. Their stories are mind blowingly painful and sad, and yet their resilience is so strong. One of them stood and said some words with tears in his eyes: "We are so, so thankful for you and for America, for this great country. And we hope someday we can help you...and someday I want my sons to serve this country, whether in the military or some other way. I want to learn your culture and your language and I want you to learn mine. I want to share with your family." I was overwhelmed at their sentiment.
But then he went on to say some things that made me very sad, "We are good people. We have nothing to do with what is going on. We are good people and we hope we can prove that to you. We want to add to America. We thank you." These folks are acutely aware of the fear that's been generated around them. If you are afraid of these people being here in your country, in your neighborhood, you need to check yourself and ask why. If you're a Christian, and you are blindly putting tenuous national security concerns above loving your neighbor, if you are putting country before God, if your first reaction was to wonder whether these people were properly vetted, then you need to make this personal for you. You need to get out there and go meet them. Go help them. These people were vetted for almost a year before they were allowed to come here, BUT EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T, you should still do it. Even if they meant you harm, you should still do it. Then I'd hope a connection with real Americans helping them in their time of need and sharing the love of Christ might just have an impact on them. Either way, you should do it. We should do it.
These people are like you and me. They have families--moms, dads, kids, husbands, wives. They want to work and be productive and have dignity. They want to provide for their families. They want to share in life. They laugh like you laugh, and they weep like you weep, except their sorrow is much deeper than yours will most likely ever be.
We cannot save everyone, but we can save many, and we should."
- Ryan Charles HireAHelper
"Thank you HireAHelper for putting on such an amazing and humbling night! We were blessed to share a meal and American traditions with 5 Syrian families who recently entered the U.S as refugees. So many beautiful children with parents doing everything they can do provide them with a safe future. I picked the right table to sit at and met an amazing family with 6 children who have only been in the country 40 days, and just found an apartment 4 days ago. They have very little and are still so happy, positive and grateful for all they have. They did not ask for anything but I wanted to help so I asked one of the translators to come sit and talk with us. I asked what I could get for them they may need. At first they said only socks for the baby but I kept pushing and finally was able to get somewhere.
With Black Friday coming I plan to purchase a lot of these items that I don't just have at home to give. If you have items you can donate or would like to give towards the cost of these please let me know. The boys were so tiny it truly brought tears to my eyes when I found out how old they really were."
- Ally Owens Love Crosses Ocean
To Donate to helping resettle refugees (clothes, food, supplies)
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To donate directly to Jody and Lena's work with Refugees
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