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Hello friends & family. I would like to introduce you to the AlBachan Family.
The AlBachans -- Mohamad (father, 44 years old), Hanadi Mohamed (mother, 39); their kids, Bassam (20 years old); Diaa (19 years old); Taghreed (16 years old); Baraah (14 years old); Anas (8 years old) and Walaa (1 year old)-- fled the fighting in Syria and were granted refuge just last month in San Diego, CA.
All eight of them are living in El Cajon and are currently depending on meager public and private non-profit resources and support to begin their new lives here in America.
I will be meeting with them for the 1st time on Wednesday, March 1st. I hope to become friends with them and provide them advice and support where I can as they adjust to their new lives here in San Diego.
They have been through unimaginable hardship. I am acutely aware how lucky I have been, as a member of the human race who won the luck-lottery by being born who and when and where I was - and feel the need to do something to help them. Recently, especially, I have been looking for small ways to make a difference and help others, if you feel the same way, I would like to ask for your help, too.
If you can make a donation to my GoFundMe page, I would be incredibly grateful. As of right now, they need some basics - cleaning supplies like laundry detergent, dish and hand soap, Clorox, 2 twin mattresses for the little kids, a microwave, a kettle, a shower curtain rod...things to make their living space comfortable and keep it clean.
After I meet with them, I'm sure I'll get a clearer picture of what will help them, I know they are in search of a reliable mode of transportation, would like a tv, and will likely be in search of some basic furniture - I'll update this page after I get to meet them in person. Literally ANYTHING you can contribute will be a help to this family.
Thanks for taking to time to read this & thank you for any support you might be willing to give.
Additional information:
1. Who Am I? My name is Maaike Petrie, and I am a volunteer with Heart4Refugees, a nonprofit organization based here in San Diego that seeks to ensure the 1,000 Syrian refugees who have been resettled here are supported during their transition to new lives in America. (https://www.facebook.com/Heart4Refugees/?fref=nf)
2. Where am I from? Though I've lived all over the world, I now reside in the beautiful city of San Diego, CA.
3. How do I know the AlBachan Family? They are my "adopted" family! I was introduced to them in February 2017 and will get to meet with them face to face on March 1st. I found out about the Heart4Refugees organization through a friend and when I contacted them to see where I could volunteer, Heart4Refugees offered the chance to "adopt" a family and help purchase and deliver items on their "wish list," I was very happy to volunteer. It is my hope that our relationship will continue, and I will be able to offer not only financial help but also the comfort of a supportive friendship as they navigate life in America.
4. How will the funds will be used? In addition to providing the needed items specified by the AlBachans, I will be using the funds to help meet their needs (clothing, food, medicine, other household goods; car repairs; bills and rent, etc) until they are gainfully employed and more financially independent.
5. Will funds be given directly to the family? No. Heart4Refugees strongly recommends the funds be used on the family's behalf rather than being delivered directly to the family (for example, it is better to pay rent to the family's landlord than it is to just give cash to the family). This way, volunteers can coordinate to ensure the maximum number of families get what they need. To start, I purchased some of the immediate supplies needed by the family (for basics like cleaning and household supplies); their biggest need is for a mode of transportation! So I'm going to ask for donations towards that please! Once I find a vehicle (any leads appreciated!) and can have it checked out (don't want to give them a money pit) I will use the gofundme funds to cover the vehicle cost, and and DMV cost, as well as try to find them some afforable car insurance. Any remaining fund will be used to tackle items further down the "needs" list.
Thank you again for your time for any support you can provide - I'm so excited to be able to help and show some compassion for someone in need.
-Maaike
The AlBachans -- Mohamad (father, 44 years old), Hanadi Mohamed (mother, 39); their kids, Bassam (20 years old); Diaa (19 years old); Taghreed (16 years old); Baraah (14 years old); Anas (8 years old) and Walaa (1 year old)-- fled the fighting in Syria and were granted refuge just last month in San Diego, CA.
All eight of them are living in El Cajon and are currently depending on meager public and private non-profit resources and support to begin their new lives here in America.
I will be meeting with them for the 1st time on Wednesday, March 1st. I hope to become friends with them and provide them advice and support where I can as they adjust to their new lives here in San Diego.
They have been through unimaginable hardship. I am acutely aware how lucky I have been, as a member of the human race who won the luck-lottery by being born who and when and where I was - and feel the need to do something to help them. Recently, especially, I have been looking for small ways to make a difference and help others, if you feel the same way, I would like to ask for your help, too.
If you can make a donation to my GoFundMe page, I would be incredibly grateful. As of right now, they need some basics - cleaning supplies like laundry detergent, dish and hand soap, Clorox, 2 twin mattresses for the little kids, a microwave, a kettle, a shower curtain rod...things to make their living space comfortable and keep it clean.
After I meet with them, I'm sure I'll get a clearer picture of what will help them, I know they are in search of a reliable mode of transportation, would like a tv, and will likely be in search of some basic furniture - I'll update this page after I get to meet them in person. Literally ANYTHING you can contribute will be a help to this family.
Thanks for taking to time to read this & thank you for any support you might be willing to give.
Additional information:
1. Who Am I? My name is Maaike Petrie, and I am a volunteer with Heart4Refugees, a nonprofit organization based here in San Diego that seeks to ensure the 1,000 Syrian refugees who have been resettled here are supported during their transition to new lives in America. (https://www.facebook.com/Heart4Refugees/?fref=nf)
2. Where am I from? Though I've lived all over the world, I now reside in the beautiful city of San Diego, CA.
3. How do I know the AlBachan Family? They are my "adopted" family! I was introduced to them in February 2017 and will get to meet with them face to face on March 1st. I found out about the Heart4Refugees organization through a friend and when I contacted them to see where I could volunteer, Heart4Refugees offered the chance to "adopt" a family and help purchase and deliver items on their "wish list," I was very happy to volunteer. It is my hope that our relationship will continue, and I will be able to offer not only financial help but also the comfort of a supportive friendship as they navigate life in America.
4. How will the funds will be used? In addition to providing the needed items specified by the AlBachans, I will be using the funds to help meet their needs (clothing, food, medicine, other household goods; car repairs; bills and rent, etc) until they are gainfully employed and more financially independent.
5. Will funds be given directly to the family? No. Heart4Refugees strongly recommends the funds be used on the family's behalf rather than being delivered directly to the family (for example, it is better to pay rent to the family's landlord than it is to just give cash to the family). This way, volunteers can coordinate to ensure the maximum number of families get what they need. To start, I purchased some of the immediate supplies needed by the family (for basics like cleaning and household supplies); their biggest need is for a mode of transportation! So I'm going to ask for donations towards that please! Once I find a vehicle (any leads appreciated!) and can have it checked out (don't want to give them a money pit) I will use the gofundme funds to cover the vehicle cost, and and DMV cost, as well as try to find them some afforable car insurance. Any remaining fund will be used to tackle items further down the "needs" list.
Thank you again for your time for any support you can provide - I'm so excited to be able to help and show some compassion for someone in need.
-Maaike