MSS Lenten Project -- Welcome Home Refugees
Learn why we are helping and how to help!
The seventh grade students are excited to announce this year’s Lenten service project! After looking through some possibilities, the seventh grade students decided that Welcome Home Refugees is a perfect fit for Mustard Seed School. Welcome Home Refugees is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit (which means that, except for their storage unit, the group has no overhead or administrative costs) and it’s based in Jersey City. All of the received donations directly serve refugees and asylees that they partner with. This was something that intrigued the seventh graders. It’s empowering to know that all proceeds MSS raises will directly help the refugees and asylees. Alain Mentha, the director of operations, sent an email detailing several examples of Welcome Home Refugees acting out its mission. Here are some of those stories:
1. In January, with the help of Catholic Charities, Welcome Home Refugees helped an asylee and her three children, who were about to be forced into a public shelter in the Bronx, move into an apartment in Jersey City. Welcome Home Refugees paid the deposit and first two months rent, and they furnished the apartment with donated furniture and beds.
2. Last month, Welcome Home Refugees helped a Syrian refugee get to Thailand to plead for her two older children who had been placed in detention there on immigration violation charges.
3. A few weeks ago, Welcome Home Refugees brought a bunch of children to the Nimbus Dance Studio production of Hullabaloo.
4. This upcoming month, Welcome Home Refugees will pay the rent for another asylee with three children who lost her job recently and needs emergency support, and measures will be put in place to help her on the pathway to self-sufficiency.
5. Almost every Thursday, Welcome Home Refugees hosts a “Fun Club” from 6:00-8:00 PM. This club provides educational support for children, English classes for the adults, and plenty of other wonderful support. If donating money is difficult, they are always looking for volunteers, so if you’re interested, please email bharris@mustardseedschool.org for more information.