Our refugee outreach continues, while war rages in Europe and more refugees arrive in the U.S. Most Afghan refugee families, in particular, are caught in the legal limbo described here. This inspiring story about helping Afghan refugees landed close to the heart, several of our mentors have said. Locally, there has also been good progress in recent weeks.

OUR SPONSORED FAMILY

They have received a car! Generously donated by UUCville’s compassionate Pat Millman, this vehicle is a life-changer. The father will now be able to get to the landscaping job he has found through another UUCville congregant, which will empower him to help support his family. Meanwhile, the elder son has earned good reports from a local hotel, where he works at the reception desk. The father continues his English studies and his facility is improving, while the mother and younger son enjoy weekly lessons with a UUCville mentor. Some of our mentors recently celebrated the younger son’s 17th birthday with cake and ice cream. Birthdays aren’t typically celebrated in their culture, so the family especially enjoyed sending photos of the festivity to relatives in Afghanistan. The younger son’s health isn’t stable enough for him to attend school yet, but he is improving. He is very excited about the car, and yearns for drives and a picnic. The family has invited our “mentor family” to celebrate Eid with them next month.

SEWING MACHINE DRIVE

Amazingly, thanks to an incredibly generous response from both UUCville and the larger community, we have delivered 40 working sewing machines to refugee families and now have 21 more on hand, ready to give to newly-arrived or newly-housed refugees. And it hasn’t stopped with sewing machines. Over the last few months we have also received about three carloads of fabric and sewing notions! We are organizing a plan to disburse these also to the families who are finally out of hotels and have transitioned to rental homes.

HOTEL LIMBO UPDATE

The hunt for employment and affordable housing for local Afghan refugees is intense and ongoing. The IRC and International Neighbors have searched as far as Farmville and beyond to find homes for these families. Three families (of 10, 11, and 9 members) have recently accepted housing in Farmville. Six others, still hotel-bound, are at the beginning of the process and their support network is being pulled together. Five single men are sharing two Barracks West apartments; only one has found employment as of yet. Among the jobs men have secured so far include taxi driver, restaurant worker and (possibly) Lowe’s associate.

PLEASE CONTINUE to keep the hardworking refugees in mind as you come across potential employment or housing info. Send your leads to refugeewelcome@uucharlottesville.org.

THANK YOU! For all you have done and are doing to support inherent worth and dignity.