Elizabeth Breeden summarizes where our refugee outreach stands: in SUSPENSE.

“The mentors are trained, we have collected an apartment’s-worth of furniture and supplies that are carefully stored. We are offering our extra furniture and supplies to other families. We have a generous amount of donated money to get us started. But our families are waiting. Waiting in hotel rooms around the County for housing.

HOUSING! Does anyone know of possible temporary or permanent affordable housing…? Waiting in a hotel room is not starting your life in America. It’s waiting.” [NOTE: Some refugee children have been enrolled in school even though the housing gridlock may mean that just like many local children, they’ll be uprooted to new schools when a secure place to live is found.]

UPDATE – THESE NEEDS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED THANKS TO YOU!

Please email housing ideas or ANY leads to: refugeewelcome@uucharlottesville.org.

The Refugee Welcome team will wait as long as it takes to welcome and settle our refugee family. In the meantime, please help us be FULLY prepared by donating (on Summit House porch) what you can from the updated NEEDED-items list below.  Thank you!

Laptop computer*
Tablet/iPad*
Cutting board
Grater
Loaf pan
Plastic wrap
Pressure cooker
Household tool kit
Trashcans: kitchen, bath and bedrooms
Digital alarm clocks (2)
AA and AAA batteries
Nightlights
Flashlights
First aid kit

*Please email refugeewelcome@uucharlottesville.org if you have these to contribute. Thanks.