From: CWS Lancaster <vross@cwsglobal.org>
Date: Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 6:00 AM
Subject: CWS Lancaster February Newsletter
To: info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org <info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org>
| No images? Click here   Refugees Are Welcome Here We are thrilled to share that the Biden administration has begun to restore the refugee resettlement program in the United States as well as take action to protect our immigrant and asylum-seeking neighbors. With many executive orders passed and others on the way, we would like to share an overview of what has happened so far: To support refugees:
To support immigrants:
To support asylum seekers:
Stay tuned for more information on these exciting changes and ways we can work together to welcome new neighbors!  Happy Valentine's Day This February we are celebrating refugee couples like Mohammad and Latifa! Originally from Afghanistan, Mohammad arrived in the United States in 2011. CWS Lancaster helped him settle into his new home. Eight long eyars later, Latifa and her four children were able to join him in December 2019. "I like almost everything in the United States. And I want to thank all the Church World Service members who helped me a lot in finding a job and helping me to bring my family here." Mohammad says. A new chapter of hope is starting in the U.S. resettlement program and we can't wait to welcome more families home!  Gift Cards Needed Did you know that you can purchase gift cards on our Amazon Wishlist? Upon arrival, clients are required to quarantine for two weeks. During this time, our office provides groceries for the newly arrived families. Gift cards are extremely helpful at this time. These can also be found on our Amazon Wishlist OR if you live locally, we recommend donating gift cards from local grocery stores, C-Town/Bravo, Save-A-Lot, Tabarek and Everest Grocery (on Columbia Ave). These can then be mailed to us! CWS Lancaster 308 E. King Street Lancaster, PA 17602  Carter G. Woodson Lecture Join us on Thursday, February 25 for the Carter G. Woodson Lecture. Hear from Dr. Deborah Gray White as well as individuals from Ambassadors of Hope, Patients R Waiting, York City Schools and our very own, Rachel Helwig and Jeanne Martin of CWS Lancaster as we share the work we have done amidst COVID-19 to continue our missions that confront systemic racism.  Meet the Team! We would like to offer you a "look behind the curtain" each month by introducing our dedicated staff to you and detailing what they do in their daily work with refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. This month we are introducing you to Leona Soi! Leona has been working as an Employment Specialist in our Employment Program since October 2020. In this role, Leona works closely with clients to identify specific needs and qualifications, developing individualized plans of action. Leona meets with clients individually to assist them in creating a detailed resume, identifying job opportunities, filling out applications, setting up interviews with potential employers, accompanying clients to interviews, providing transportation, following up with employers and negotiating job advancements when warranted. In addition, Leona participates in giving presentations to potential partner employers in the Lancaster County area. She counsels clients in areas such as job interview skills and case management to remove barriers to employment. Leona speaks Swahili which broadens our scope of outreach, as we can speak directly with clients in their native language. We are so grateful to have Leona Soi as a part of the Employment Team. She brings new ideas, is compassionate and advocates for the clients she works with! Thanks for all you do, Leona! While you're here, would you make a recurring donation? We are looking to onboard Welcome Teams! Interested in learning more about this incredible opportunity to walk beside some of Lancaster's newest refugee arrivals? Let's be in touch! Are you thinking about planned giving or stock designation? We would be happy to talk.
CWS Lancaster 308 East King Street Lancaster, PA 17602 |
