Refugee Update and current opportunities to assist

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Jean Arnott

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Feb 5, 2022, 12:32:42 PM2/5/22

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Dear Women of Faith and Friends,

My – how time flies. We’re approaching fifty families moved into housing since August and attentive volunteers following up to help with food where needed, helping apply for benefits in some cases, providing transportation, getting children in school, helping with finding jobs, helping with getting urgent medical care, helping new drivers get practice and prepare to get their driver license, repairing appliances, searching out answers to special requests, answering lots of questions and enjoying time together. This past week it even included 13 guys taking time at the last minute to clear the yard of a rental so that it was safe for a family with seven children to move into. And fourteen volunteers showing up yesterday here in Mentone to sort, clean, repair, and prepare new donations. Not to mention the folks who dedicate time to transporting donations back and forth all over the place. That is only what comes to mind right now; there is way more!

Now onto pressing needs:

1. We are in urgent need of a good refrigerator. A family paid the landlord $50 for the one that was present in the apartment, and even after very generous attempts by a volunteer to repair it, it is still freezing the fruits and vegetables. Not a good thing. Though this apartment requires a small apartment size refrigerator, we can accept a larger one and trade with our newest family of 9 who currently has a small apartment size one and has room for a bigger one. If you have one of any size, please let me know. And if you can take time to clean it first, we can get it delivered straight to the family.

2. Our newest family of nine is in a tiny two-bedroom house. The kitchen has less than 4-feet of counter space and cabinet space to match. We have provided a short shelving unit to put a microwave on. There is enough wall space that we could put a pantry/cabinet/shelving unit no more than 28 inches wide and as tall as possible. This would give some space for keeping food and other things. A unit with doors would be ideal but not required. If you have anything that might work, please text pictures and measurements.

3. We have another large family who is in need of a washing machine. Their apartment has hook ups for a washer and dryer which means that there is no laundry facilities in the complex and mom is washing the family’s clothing by hand. We already have a dryer for them; just need a washing machine to accompany it. We’ve been given at least 8 appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators) over the past few months, so I’m sure there is another one out there😉!)

4. One morning a week (Wed or Fri), a group of volunteers meet in Mentone to prepare donations to be given to refugee families. What a fun time we have! It’s so nice to be able to send a text out early each week identifying which morning it will be and have those on the list who are able to just show up.

We also have a list of local volunteers with trucks who I can contact when we need a truck to pick up donations locally. What a blessing they have been – over and over again!

We’d like to add a third group. This time it would be for the purpose of coming to our warehouse in Mentone when needed to move heavy items (i.e. when setting up for a move-in), to assemble things to check them out (such as a donated bed or crib), and/or to make minor repairs on things. This work would usually be done on an evening during the week for an hour to 1 ½ hours. If we have a group of 6 or 8 men on the list, then there will probably always be two or 3 that would be available when needed. If you’d like to be on that list (if you have older sons, you could make it a night of service together), let us know.

Other donations update:

1. Thank you for the generous donations of clothing. Most of it is so nice and we love it! We currently have plenty to sort through, so please hold off on any more clothing or shoes for the time being until we can finish going through what we have. Exceptions would be new socks and underwear.

2. Thanks for the donations of furniture (sofas, end tables, coffee tables, tables, chairs, desks, TV tables, dressers, etc., etc.) Especially thank you for the quality that you’re giving us and for the time you’re taking to clean first. We are going through them quickly and will continue to need more. Sometimes the timing is such that our storage space is full, and we ask if you can hold off a few days, even a week or two. Thanks for accommodating whenever possible. Some things can sit outside here for a day or two. If it rains or the Santa Ana winds pick up, that doesn’t work as well. So, your hanging on when needed is really appreciated.

3. Generally speaking, it continues to be important that you check in and see if what you have to donate is something we can use. Some items are really nice but just not something that we can use. Our space is limited so thanks for checking first.

Top needed items right now. Some are also fine as gently used and clean.

Links are provided for your convenience. If you like, you can have your gift sent directly to:
Women of Faith Interfaith Service Community, 31838 Florida Avenue, Mentone, CA 92359

If you are part of a group that would like to conduct a donation drive, please let us know and we can provide an up-to-date list that fits your circumstances. There are also other things you can do like make welcome posters and write notes. Contact us for more information if you’d like to do that.

College Ruled Notebooks
https://tinyurl.com/12-college-ruled-notebooks

Cutting Boards
https://tinyurl.com/cutting-boards-for-kitchen

Dish drainer and mat
https://tinyurl.com/Dish-drainer-and-mat

Cuisinart Knife Set
https://tinyurl.com/Cuisanart-Knife-Set

Shower curtain with hooks
https://tinyurl.com/Grey-shower-curtain-with-hooks

Expanding File Folder
https://tinyurl.com/expanding-file-folder

Dirt-Devil Vacuum Cleaner
https://tinyurl.com/Dirt-Devil-Vacuum

Toddler Bed Boy
https://tinyurl.com/toddler-bed-boy

Toddler Bed Girl
https://tinyurl.com/Toddler-Bed-Girl

Paper towels

2022 wall calendars (the free ones you get in the mail)

Disposable razors for men