The following comes from Catholic Charities which is the refugee resettlement agency for refugees arriving in the Northampton area. The Haydenville “Circle of Care” is on hold but you’ll see below that there are opportunities to help with refugees. As a Church we are also helping support Irida, an immigrant facing deportation, who is in sanctuary with the UU Society of Northampton. For more information about refugees and immigrants talk to Doug Renick or Lisa Hall of the Peace and Justice Steering Committee.
Four ways you can help arriving refugee families now:
1. Help with occasional transportation of refugees to English class, work, medical appointments, etc.
2. Join our new and fabulous fundraising committee, and help plan events to raise money that will support our arriving refugee families.
3. Become part of a new “Circle of Care.” We are actively forming new “Circles of Care” in Northampton, Amherst and Easthampton. A “Circle of Care” is a group of ten or more people who orient arriving refugee families to their new community and help them through resettlement.
4. Give a monthly gift to Catholic Charities to help support the refugee resettlement program.
Please contact Keegan at k.pyle@diospringfield.org if you are interested in helping arriving refugee families in any of these ways.