Resettlement of Refugees In Maine
By: Michele Bois-Gilbody, RC of Freeport Club
Dear Friends and Fellow Rotarians,
I want to invite you to participate in a wonderful service opportunity to collaborate with Catholic Charities of Maine to assist with the resettlement of Afghan refugees. To date there are over 100 people relocating from Ft. William, VA to our district. Catholic Charities of Maine is looking at housing prospects primarily in Augusta and Biddeford, with secondary locations in Brunswick-Topsham and Lewiston. There are two families confirmed and currently making their way to Maine: consisting of Mothers, Fathers, a Grandmother and 5 children. We do not yet have clothing sizes, but have the ages of the children, in one family, two girls (infant and age 2) in the second family a three-year-old- sex unknown, a 5-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl.
How can we help?
Rotary clubs in District 7780, in partnership with Catholic Charities, can be the driving force behind collections of items and furnishings that folks need to get started. Although we cannot begin to replace all that they have lost, we can help them to begin a new life through compassion and some dedicated hard work.
Below is a list of items that are specifically taken from the Catholic Charities website.
https://www.ccmaine.org/refugee-immigration-services/support/other-ways-to-help
Ways to Help:
Here at Catholic Charities-Refugee & Immigration Services we have been so grateful for the many calls from people wanting to help Afghan arrivals. Here are some ideas:
New arrivals are always delighted to get Gift Cards so they can pick out what they want. Most people shop at Walmart. Hannaford and other food stores are also good.
Donations of new things are also much appreciated but we accept things that are gently used as well. Please note we have no place to wash clothing or repair it.
Examples of item’s we’ll be needing to set up households include:
Kitchen: Dishes, silverware, basic kitchen utensils (i.e. bowls, cups, can openers, pots & pans etc.)
Personal Hygiene: deodorant, shampoo & conditioner, feminine hygiene Pads, thermometer, toothpaste (We have a lot of toothbrushes)
Bedding: Sheets, blankets & bedspreads for twin and full size beds. New pillows
Bathroom: laundry basket, shower curtain, towels & washcloths, toilet paper,
Cleaning supplies: bucket, broom, laundry soap, dish soap, general cleaning liquid
Welcome Kit: calendar, notebook, pencils & pens, scissors, hangers
School supplies: backpacks for High school kids, plastic pencil sharpeners, pocket folders, pencil cases, filler paper (we have a lot of crayons)
Toys, Arts & Crafts for kids: (used toys are fine if clean and all parts present); games with English directions are not as useful
Clothing for Kids: We accept everything except ski pants for high school kids
Clothing for adults: winter and spring jackets, winter hats, gloves, scarves, socks, boots, sweaters, fleece
We are temporarily accepting furniture without fabric, such as kitchen tables & chairs, and dressers. Unfortunately, we cannot pick up.
If your club would like to be involved with collecting any of the items from this list, please email me, Michele Bois-Gilbody, Freeport Club at: michele@bois-gilbody.com I will be coordinating with interested Club Presidents, our District Leaders and our contact at Catholic Charities, June Gagnon, to facilitate the collection places, dates and times.
Thank you so much for considering this worthwhile and timely service project.