Good Evening,
As you all know, the Syrian refugee crisis is at an all time high right now. This is the largest refugee crisis of our time, with no comparison other than WWII. Last week, it reached an emotional breaking point with the release of a heart wrenching photograph. Finally, the balance has shifted and the global community is calling for action. Germany is opening her arms to some 500,000 refugees and Hungary has allowed trains filled with asylum seekers to pass through. But it can't stop here. We must think globally, through acting locally, as we urge action from the United States government.
This week, CWS-Lancaster has received an incredible outpouring of support from concerned local citizens wanting to find some way- no matter how big or small- to help Syrian refugees. From a college student wanting to help move furniture, to a mother with an infant willing to cook a meal for a new family, a church group looking for a way to form a Welcome Team, to an interested outsider who just wanted to make a monetary donation to CWS—we continue to be moved by the positive welcome the community has shown toward refugees of Lancaster County. It goes without saying, but it must be said: we could not do this without your support.
So, what is CWS-Lancaster doing? We welcomed the first Syrian family of six in June, with a second family of nine arriving next week. While we are beginning to see Syrian arrivals, the progress is slow, and we are urging you to take action with our federal government to advocate for those who need resettlement. Germany took a tremendous stand this weekend and we can only hope that other nations, including the US, will follow their lead in offering a chance for peace, safety, and security.
Additionally, our office is teaming up with our CWS-DC advocacy team to advocate and further educate our community and social service providers, so that they have a better understanding of the conflict and facts of the Syrian crisis, and what they can expect on a local level. We are currently scheduling community discussions locally, and invite you to send speaking engagement suggestions our way. This afternoon we spoke with the School District of Lancaster's Refugee Community School staff and educators at Reynolds Middle School, in an effort to lay the foundation of a welcoming city. This has gained global and local media attention, which further supports the work that we do.
How can you help?
1. Sign this petition now and demand the U.S. increase the resettlement of more Syrian refugees!
2. Talk with us and find ways to become advocates within your community to ensure that the facts of refugees, resettlement and Syrians are clear.
3. Volunteer with our office and learn of ways that you can help make Lancaster a more welcoming community.
4. Finally, you can make a donation to support the work and services that we provide to newly arriving refugees. This can be done easily at www.cwslancaster.org.
Thank you for all you continue to do to support our office. If you have questions or know of a community partner that we should arrange a speaking event with, feel free to reach out. We are always here and ready to discuss.
In Peace and Solidarity,
