Dec 15 2008
Donating
What I’m passionate about is refugees. Refugees that are resettld in the U.S., in particular. After working for a year as a resettlment case manager, I have become hooked. I could talk about it for hours.
The job was too much for me to handle. I quit after a little over a year. I wasn’t doing much but being a nervous wreck at home and at work because I was so worried every minute I’d make another mistake. Still, I was able to take a small glimpse into a world that has captured me. It all sounds like a 20-something idealist talking, and it is. But the truth is is that resettling refugees is hard.
I moved to a new state and a new job, but my heart is still with the people I worked with. I tell you, if you haven’t met a refugee yet, you’re missing out on an amazing experience.
I can still be involved in the lives of refugees. If I were closer to a big city, it would be even easier. I talked with a local resettlement agency, and they’ve let me go around picking up household donations I’ve collected through the Yahoo! group Freecycle in my area and then take them down to the city when my Cavalier is packed to the roof with sheets, towels, pots, pans, lamps, and other household stuff people don’t want.
That stuff is used to furnish refugees’ apartments upon arrival. Resettlement agencies get $425 per person to pay for rent and deposit, utilities, personal and household supplies, furniture, medicine, and more for the first 30 days after arrival. Any stuff that doesn’t have to be bought frees money up to be given to the family-that is, if there is any left after the first 30 days.
So that is my way to be involved.
This is my favorite organization in the world: www.theirc.org
Here is a link to some of their videos: http://www.theirc.org/resources/video.html
They have podcasts and blogs, and so much more there, too.
