May 22 - A Community Check In
IN THIS TOGETHER/JUNTOS EN ESTO
In This Together, or Juntos En Esto, is an innovative movement supporting small businesses, first responders, the food-insecure, and those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Locally, In This Together is working with The Viva Center, which is a licensed therapeutic service center in Dupont Circle. Through a partnership with Hook Hall Helps, each week they identify restaurants willing to support and deliver food to beneficiaries. As In This Together’s DC Ambassadors, the Viva Center has been able to serve over 1600 meals as of May 19, 2020.

We are grateful that In This Together DC has partnered with our Hyattsville refugee resettlement office twice to provide 200 meals to our refugee clients. These donated meals have been cooked up by Sticky Fingers Bakery and Granville Moores. Meals have been delivered directly to families' doors by our amazing staff and volunteers.
ENJOY THE RIDE
Whether for transportation to an essential job or the grocery store, as a form of entertainment, or for exercise, bicycles are an important donation for newly-arrived refugee and immigrant clients to receive.

During their first months in the United States many refugees rely on public transportation and save up to eventually purchase a vehicle. However, access to public transportation is dependent upon where a family lives and current disruptions due to COVID-19. This is where bike donations can fill an important transportation need.

Thanks to the efforts of our welcoming community, we have received over 20 bikes, meeting all of our client requests for bicycles. We are still in need of children's bicycles if you are looking to donate!
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
Our refugee families and clients have the following urgent donation needs:

  • Laptops
  • Irons and ironing boards
  • Dutch ovens
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Grocery gift cards
Remote and immediate volunteer opportunities:

  • Muscle movers - seeking individuals willing to drive a U-Haul or use their own truck to pick-up donated furnishings and drop-off at families' new apartments
  • Virtual family tutors/mentors - seeking individuals willing to virtually connect weekly with our refugee children, youth and adults for various learning goals and mentoring.
Those interested in donating or volunteering can sign up using this form or directly contact our Community Relations Director, Shelby Kruczek, at kruczeks@lssnca.org.
TAKE ACTION
Join us for Lunch & Learn
Thursday, May 28
12:30pm on Zoom
Join us next Thursday, May 28, at 12:30pm for our final Lunch and Learn session. Our Business Engagement & Employment Program Manager from our Hyattsville refugee resettlement office, Nesar Anwari, will be speaking with an Afghan client about his journey to the U.S. and his experience rebuilding his career after arriving in Maryland.


SPREAD LOVE NOT COVID-19
Join us in spreading messages of love, hope, and welcoming with our clients and supporters.

This fiscal year, which ends of September 30th, the United States was set to resettle 18,000 refugees. Unfortunately, with disruptions to international travel the U.S. has thus far resettled just over 7,000 refugees and may not reach our year's ceiling. But this doesn't mean we stop welcoming those who have already arrived and those that may arrive over the next few months.

June 20 marks World Refugee Day and we are hoping to flood the internet with messages of love and welcoming!

Journeys Home
One Journey Festival
Live and Remote
This year’s One Journey Festival may have been postponed in the wake of the pandemic, but 1JF is still working to bring together our community and celebrate our journeys at home.

Through this series, Journeys Home, 1JF will be exploring the concept of what “home” means especially during this pandemic. They are inviting artists, performers, theater groups, chefs, partners, storytellers, vendors and many more from our community to bring to light their resilience that has helped this community share the joy in our lives and keep a sense of ‘home’ as we adjust to this new normal.

EID MUBARAK
The end of Ramadan is upon us this weekend. We wish a happy and blessed Eid to all of our clients, partners, supporters, and friends who will be celebrating this weekend.

Ramadan ends  with  the festival of Eid al-Fitr , an occasion for Muslims observing  the holy month  across the globe to celebrate  after the fasting period .


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
LUNCH & LEARN
REFUGEE ADVOCACY