Women of Faith Update - and current needs
Jean Arnott
Hello Women of Faith and Friends,
With your assistance, we have helped move 32 refugee families into apartments since August – and the need grows every week. Thanks to everyone who has provided in some way to make this possible, from providers of sofas to towels to toothbrushes; drivers of pickups who haul donations from all points; to the many hands that have put dozens of beds together and others who have made them ready to climb into; those writing cards and making “Welcome” posters; and the volunteers who come every week to help prepare items for the next family in line!
Thanks to the local volunteers who continue to minister to these families with temporary food whilst waiting for EBT to take effect, providing transportation to appointments, getting children signed up for school, assisting with preparing resumes and job search, & making sure each family enjoyed their first holiday season in the United States.
Extra tender mercies have come with individuals who have used their resources to arrange for urgently needed medical care that couldn’t wait for health insurance to kick in. And small and large organizations that have reached out wanting to partner to make what we do even more beneficial.
And a special thankyou to Stater’s Bros. who donated – and delivered – new shelving for our warehouse’s new addition. Thank you, Pete, Angel and the rest! What a blessing!
Here is our current-most-wanted-list 😊. If you can help with any of these things, let me know.
1) Looking for one refrigerator with a width of no more than 29 “. (We have a fridge that is 4 inches too wide to fit into the confined space ☹)
OR
2) Does anyone know of someone qualified who could look at the current fridge without charge and determine if it’s worth fixing? It has been freezing everything inside since the family received it several weeks ago. Googling indicates it’s probably the thermostat, control board, or damper.
3) In need of a handy woodworking kind of guy or gal who would be available occasionally to make repairs on furniture that need a little something here or there. For instance, we have a set of dining chairs where one needs some work and then the whole set will be ready to gift.
4) Our current short-list of needed items (new or gently used):
twin comforters
clothes hangers
irons
bakeware/casserole dishes, etc.
shower curtains & liners (not the Dollar Tree variety)
unbreakable dinnerware and drinking glasses
mixing bowls
shaving cream
clean sofas, dressers, kitchen tables and chairs, etc. (We may ask if you can
hold onto something for a week or so as we have many things coming through and
don’t always have immediate space. If it’s
clean and ready to go, we can probably find a home for your piece before we
even receive it.)
5) If you would like to take a look at our longer current-most-needed list for refugees, let me know. If you’re part of a group that has been looking for a way to contribute to the warm welcome of refugees now arriving from the camps, and you think you might like to organize a drive for them, let me know. i.e. We would benefit from another drive specifically for cleaning supplies in another month or so.
6) Looking for additional help to check out and service sewing machines that we’d like to give to our growing list of Afghan moms who have requested one. Sewing will allow them to sew for their family and perhaps even make a little money. We have the machines and a sewing kit to go along with them. We just want to know they’re in good order before we gift them.
Check out our FB page for more pics. https://www.facebook.com/Women-of-Faith-Interfaith-Service-Community-214203342025822
Again – special thanks as we wrap up 2021 and pray that 2022 will bring resolution to some of the biggest trials many are facing.
Jean
