6 Ways to Help Separated Families and Children!

News from Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries

(Go to:  http://bit.ly/helpfamsandkids often for updates!)

Greetings Disciples Friends,

Immigrant communities continue to endure "Zero Tolerance" policies that have led to family separation, growing and longer term family detention, and heartbreak.  Courts have mandated the government to reunify all separated families by JULY 26th.  In the meantime, families are traumatized, and the administration is currently looking to build massive tent cities for potentially longer term family detention.  The decision to change the Zero Tolerance practices which have led to separations and increasing detention rests squarely within the administration. 

Faith voices OF compassion for children and families fleeing violence have already made a strong impact--but MANY more voices continue to be needed to change the policies, and to be sure that current child and family protections of the "Flores Settlement" do not get taken away by legislation or administrative efforts. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?

1)   PARTNER WITH WEEK OF COMPASSION TO SUPPORT PHYSICAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BEING REUNITED BEFORE THE JULY 26TH DEADLINE!

Give to WOC this week, designated as "Keep Families & Children Together."  This will enable WOC to continue to support needs as they arise.  If you are near to the Phoenix area, DONATE HOT FOOD for 40 persons/night.  Call Jenny Tatum directly at: 480-450-0411 to schedule your help!  OR, donate fresh fruit, Gatorade, bottled water, Wal-Mart gift cards, backpacks, or small stuffed animals (and arrange to deliver them through the number above!

2) As Disciples communities of faith (and friends!) around the country, 

JOIN YOUR VOICE AND PEACEFUL PRESENCE IN EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

in s upport of reunifying families, ending the Zero Tolerance Policy that has caused the crisis, and halting the detention of children and families.  Instead, we seek far more 

humane alternatives to family detention 

  (go here to learn more: http://bit.ly/WRCATDs)  such as demonstrated case management services--often led by faith partners. We must together say and show that  FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER!

 

3)  You are also needed to  HELP LEAD OR PARTICIPATE IN PRAYER VIGILS AND ACTIONS NEAR BASES WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO BUILD LARGE "TENT CITIES" FOR FAMILY DETENTION!   These key sites include military bases near Mobile, Orange, and Silverhill, AL.

, near Yuma, AZ., at Fort Bliss and Goodfellow near El Paso and San Angelo, TX., and near Camp Pendleton and Concord/San Francisco areas in CA.  

Groups are also urged to hold events near for-profit and  ICE immigrant detention centers .  

Email Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries Director, Sharon, if interested, at: sstanley@dhm.disciples.org.

4)  Because of the extreme URGENCY to encourage reunification and protection of children and families, WEEK OF COMPASSION HAS MADE AVAILABLE LIMITED "FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER" EMERGENCY MINI-GRANTS for Disciples congregations and partners to ensure Disciples will plan and participate in actions across the country to change policies of family separation and detention!  Funds are limited (and normally not more than $250 per request), and will be distributed through our Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries office.  If you have creative ideas for ways such funds could assist a group from your congregation/area to *join an event, *rent a bus, *support transportation costs, *hold a prayer vigil, *support immigrant families and ally voices in other ways during this Saturday's National Day of Action, please make your request to RIM at: http://bit.ly/FamMiniGrant   immediately !

5) If you have not already done so, please be sure to  SIGN ON TO THE DISCIPLES "FAMILY SEPARATIONS: A WORD TO THE CHURCH" LETTER at www.disciples.org

--and join our General Minister and President, Regional Ministers, and over 2,000 Disciples around the nation who are urging that we Keep Families and Children Together, in honor of Jesus' words in Matthew 19:14,  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Be sure to encourage your congregation and community to sign on, as well!!  Also, see: http://bit.ly/helpfamsandkids  on our Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries website to  FIND RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP, EDUCATION, AND ACTION ABOUT THE CURRENT CRISIS, and go here to: www.disciplesimmigration.org for Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel.