Give
Give funds to help with the costs of renting living space, furnishing and equipping homes, food and clothing, transportation, medical services and legal counsel.
Refugee Response Ministry
We follow Jesus and Make Him Known by welcoming some of our newest neighbors through the Refugee Response Ministry. There are many facets to the global refugee crisis, therefore, there are many ways for people to meaningfully respond. We are committed to a collaborative approach that prioritizes prayer, training and action. We seek to offer welcome in ways that are relational, responsive and resource-filled.
Responding to Those In Need
Many refugee families are in need of support as they rebuild their lives and establish self-sufficiency. As their new neighbors, we can offer friendship, resources, advocacy, and life-skills mentoring. We are calling our congregation to a collective response.
Volunteer
Volunteer your time in welcoming efforts through meeting one-time needs, serving more frequently in specific areas, or forming welcome teams to support a family with both relational and practical support.
Volunteer Opportunities
Let us know you’re interested in serving in one of the roles below.
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Join a Welcome Team
Invest in walking alongside one new family by surrounding them with a team of volunteers offering practical and relational support.
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Help with English Classes or English Conversation Practice
Assist one of several community partners offering ESL classes locally (in an in-person or online format, during either the daytime or evening hours). Or, connect one on one with an individual to regularly practice English phrases & conversation.
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Join the Transportation Team to Provide Rides to Appointments
Provide transportation to medical appointments, job interviews, etc. for individuals who don’t yet have vehicles. This group will serve as a team of people to be contacted as transportation needs arise.
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Join the Employment Team
Help our new neighbors write resumes, identify job opportunities, apply for available jobs, and prepare for interviews.
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Help with one or more pieces of the Path to Driving
Help our new neighbors navigate the DMV process, practice driving in order to get their license, find and procure reliable inexpensive vehicles, and/or complete needed car maintenance on their “new” car.
FAQs
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Where are these family from & where are they living in our area now?
Our most recently arrived refugee neighbors are originally from places like Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, although many have been displaced for years and have had to spend years in other countries before being able to come here.
Our local refugee agency places them wherever they have been able to find affordable housing, so these new neighbors have settled all across our area. We have new families who need support in Carlisle, Dillsburg, Mechanicsburg, New Cumberland, Enola, Middletown, Steelton and all areas of Harrisburg, including Midtown & the Northern Harrisburg area.
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Why is there a sudden need to help so many of the refugee families in our area?
In the last two months funding was halted for the US Refugee Resettlement Program. When that happened, our local refugee resettlement agency had to lay off most of its staff. So, without the staff and funding that this local office would usually have to help the newly arrived refugees in our area, these families are without the support & services they would typically receive to get on their feet & begin rebuilding their lives here. Because of our church’s long-term partnership with our local refugee agency, we along with several partner churches were asked to jump in and help fill this gap for these new neighbors.
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Can I sign up to volunteer with my Life Group or a few friends?
Absolutely! This is a great opportunity for a Life Group to serve together. Serving with friends, whether they go to our church or not, is also a great way to have fun together & grow in relationship with others while serving our community!
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What if I don’t feel like I am equipped for this work or have the time for it?
We’d encourage you with three things:
1 – You won’t be alone! We have a group of volunteers who have done this for years who will serve as coaches to help guide you along the way & serve as a resource to connect you into the pretty extensive network of resources that have been built in our area over the years.
2 – Be reassured that you aren’t expected to meet all of a family’s needs! You shouldn’t go into this with that expectation. We’re just asking you to come alongside a few of our newly arrived refugee neighbors as they’re rebuilding their lives here and help make the process a little simpler & easier for them as you are able. And, the truth is, we’d much rather put together a team of people who can each only help with a small portion of the needs than have no one help because everyone is worried that they won’t be able to do enough.
3 – In this work, there will be new things you will learn and opportunities to grow and stretch and be further refined and sanctified by God and we’re confident that you will get so much good out of that as we ourselves have experienced! BUT, it is really important to know that MOST of what you need to do this work, you are already an expert in because you are an American adult who has done all of the things these new neighbors will be needing to do!
