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February 2024
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”
~Elizabeth Andrew
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VOLUNTEERING AS LOVE IN ACTION
February is a time when the air is filled with expressions of love and kindness. This month, we're shining a spotlight on just a few of the unsung heroes among us – the volunteers who have exemplified service as an act of love.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization, tirelessly
dedicating their time, energy, and skills to uplift others and create positive change. Their selfless contributions often go unnoticed, but their impact reverberates far and wide, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion and goodwill.
This month, we have the privilege of recognizing volunteers who have gone above and beyond to spread love through their service. We invite you to join us in celebrating these extraordinary volunteers who have touched the lives of so many with their boundless love and compassion
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Ronica is with the Guilford College United Methodist Church team. She has helped to set up and furnish our last 70 houses. Ronica has an important role here with us at NCASC. We are grateful that she helps us stay organized, and helps run the show behind the scenes. We can always count on Ronica for anything we need, whether it is stopping by a client's house or organizing events to help our housing team. She is our go-to person. Ronica and the CGUMC have set up a room in their church to help with donations. | |
Judy is with the CGUMC team as well and has been there with us to complete setting up all of our houses over the past year. We appreciate all of her time and dedication. She is always finding us beautiful donations and keeps networking with our community to make sure clients always have what they need. Judy always makes sure the houses look perfect and we appreciate her love. | |
George is our go-to person for helping us set up houses, fix old furniture or anything else that needs to be done. George is always there for us. He continues to help us set up all of our houses each month, and he is integral to our team in getting the job done efficiently. | |
David has a trailer and helps with locating and transporting furniture and housing sets-ups. He is always happy to help whenever we need him. David brings friendship and comradery to our team, he is always there when we need him, and if we don't have something, he will always help us find it. | |
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Kathleen has been here from the very beginning always spreading the word about what our agency does, and always collecting donations for us. Kathleen has volunteered many times to help us pick up furniture and has even let us use her lawnmower during the summer. Kathleen is an instrumental part of our agency and it's people like her who keep us going.
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Michael has spent countless hours helping our refugee clients. From helping them find jobs, teaching how to apply for work, get clothing, acquire bikes, instructing them on how to be financially stable, helping with maintenance issues, or any issue you could possibly have in life, Michael is there. Michael spends time with our clients, building friendships and is there to help them become self-sufficient. We appreciate all of his time and dedication to our clients.
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NCASC staff have been happy to have Umesh around the office over the past several months. Umesh loves helping and working with a variety of people and projects. The NCASC staff all agree that he is hard-working, eager to help, task-oriented and focused. It seems that he can do anything he puts his mind to from filing papers to making PowerPoints. When asked about his time volunteering with NCASC, Umesh says “I enjoy being at NCASC. I like working with people from all over the world and learning about their cultures. I enjoy office work and doing things on the computer." NCASC is lucky to have him around! | |
It's hard to imagine the NCASC without Naomi. She holds the fort down at the front desk daily while managing client flow and phone calls. Her presence provides a calm efficiency that is the foundation for a successfully run office, as well as making all of our lives easier! When asked about her time at NCASC, she said her favorite part was the people. " It's not usual to find a place where you get along with everybody, but I do here. And it's interesting to meet people from all over the world!" | |
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When the initial influx of Afghan refugees arrived in 2021, the community rallied together with a surge of support to assist. Much of this support naturally gravitated towards aiding women and children. However, there was a significant number of single men who had served alongside American troops and were now in need of assistance after fleeing the Taliban's advance. For Capri, who, along with her husband, had also served in the military, this situation hit close to home. She felt a personal connection to these men, stating, "These men fought alongside our troops and had to flee as a result. They deserve our help."
Motivated by this conviction, Capri took it upon herself to sponsor all of these single male refugees, becoming a one-woman support system for them for over two years. Thanks to her unwavering dedication and commitment, they have made remarkable progress. Capri expressed, "It's incredibly fulfilling to witness their achievements, from obtaining driver's licenses and cars to learning English, securing employment, and adapting to their new environment. While they remain separated from their families back in Afghanistan, which remains a source of frustration, it's heartening to see how far they've come."
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Amanda, much like countless single mothers, early on encountered her fair share of challenges. Despite facing financial hardships and setbacks, Amanda was eventually able to arrive at a place of stability thanks to the encouragement and assistance of members of her community. Ever since, she has dedicated herself to paying it forward and providing help to other single mothers in her area. Amanda frequently supports NCASC families, extending a helping hand by purchasing gift cards to cover essential expenses such as school supplies and clothes. Additionally, during the holiday season, Amanda goes above and beyond by adopting an entire family for Christmas, ensuring they experience the joy and warmth of the season despite any hardships they may be facing. Her acts of kindness not only alleviate the burdens of others but also serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration within her community.
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Linda Blough had no idea where a neighbor's request for donation items would lead. The neighbor informed her that there was a new family down the road, refugees from Afghanistan, and that they would need some help getting settled in their new home. What started as a donated lawn mower has turned into a two-year journey binding the two families together. Linda quickly grew fond of the family and slowly but surely became a one-person support team. From teaching them how to navigate paying bills, helping them learn how to mow the yard, enrolling their son in daycare, to even driving the mother to the hospital while she was in labor, Linda has demonstrated what caring above and beyond looks like. “It’s great to see them become accustomed after the last two years. It’s definitely been an interesting experience!” Linda remarks, reflecting on the journey of friendship and support that has blossomed between her family and the newcomers. Through her selfless actions, Linda has not only helped the refugee family adapt to their new life but has also enriched her own life with the joy of making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. | |
RACE SCHOLARS OF THE MONTH | |
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Dik Keer is a junior at Greensboro Middle College and a member of the Class of 2025. As a North Carolina African Services Coalition Youth Scholar, Dik has participated in a number of our community and cultural events. She is from Sudan and is fluent in both Arabic and English.
Dik Keer has taken advantage of opportunities to participate in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related camps and workshops. This participation has sparked an interest in pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. She has worked hard to remain a well-rounded high achiever through her volunteerism and civic engagement activities. Dik has participated in Greensboro’s World Refugee Day and Unity Walk Festivals. In addition to her volunteer work at Greensboro Middle College, she has completed professional interpreter training and volunteers assisting refugee students and their families to become self-sufficient.
We congratulate Dik Keer for becoming one of NC ASC’s February Scholars of the Month. We look forward to our continued work with Dik as she makes a final decision about where to attend college. We are very excited to witness Dik Keer’s continued success!
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Wesal Gebrel is a senior at Dudley High School and a member of the Class of 2024. She enjoys math and desires to major in Chemical Engineering. Originally from Sudan, Wesal continues to learn from her many experiences to position herself for success in college and beyond.
Wesal Gebrel has been very organized and persistent in her approach to becoming a college student. In addition to her involvement with our Youth Services workshops and seminars, Wesal has completed numerous volunteer hours and involved herself in civic and community events. She is an entrepreneur who enjoys working with family members to sell paintings at area cultural events. After applying to eight different colleges and universities, Wesal has received her first acceptance letter from Wingate University. We expect her to receive a number of acceptance letters before she makes her final decision on where to attend college.
We congratulate Wesal Gebrel for being one of our February Scholars of the Month! We look forward to celebrating with her and her family members as she continues on her road to success!
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AFGHAN SUPPORT CENTER EVENT
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We enjoyed the opportunity to showcase NCASC and our programs at the Afghan Support Center event held at the Durham Convention Center last week. It was gratifying to share information about our services with the local refugee community and establish meaningful connections with refugee service providers and related agencies from across North Carolina. | |
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After his mother had dedicated a little over 20 years to NCASC, Moses followed in her footsteps by interning here during his senior year at UNCG. His positive experience and commitment to the mission of NCASC drove him to become a case manager after graduation. In this role, he dedicates himself to help his clients reach self-sufficiency. Moses sees his role as critical, as coming to the United States can be scary from knowing what might lie ahead, especially after what they just came from. “I see myself as a guardian, ensuring the clients are treated with respect. I get to be a part of their second chance and help make the most of their experience,” says Moses.
Most clients that come to NCASC are refugees, and they didn’t ask to be in the situation they have been put in. This is why Moses’s short-term goals are to help those individuals be the best they can be. His perspective is that “their past is the past and I want to help them walk towards a better future.” While this goal can have its difficulties and present uncertainties, it is a rewarding one for both the client and himself. In his career at large, Moses wants to continue to have positive impacts on those around him by being a pediatrician.
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Scan the QR code or click the image to see ways you can get involved to partner with ASC to help welcome and serve our newest neighbors! Please share with friends! | | | | |
