Help an asylum-seeking family begin a new life!
Donation protected
Friends,
Many asylum seekers living in the Chicago area are cold, hungry, and without decent shelter. While we understand that the politics of the migrant crisis are complicated, these are real people who need help. None of us can solve this overwhelming problem. But, together, we CAN help one family find a home. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
There are many, many asylum-seeking families staying temporarily in Chicago’s migrant shelters. The conditions at the shelters are very difficult: there are rows and rows of cots crowded together; it's frequently cold; there is not sufficient food or medical attention. To make matters worse, many families staying in the Chicago shelters will lose their placement soon. If alternate housing is not found, they may end up on the streets. Time is running short. The Migrant Ministry in Oak Park, an organization we are partnering with, is working hard to resettle families into apartments. But, the Migrant Ministry needs funds. Will you please help?
Jim and I have a very specific, very “doable” goal.
Our goal is to fund one asylum-seeking family so they can have stable housing and start their new life. The family will have traveled thousands of miles to escape poverty and dangerous conditions. The parents have dreams like yours and mine—a stable, warm home where they can raise their family. They want to work, provide for their kids, become independent.
Together, we can give them the head start they need so they can survive and thrive.
Your donation will help pay for rent, utilities, food, clothes, and transportation for nine months. The family will need this financial support while they apply for work permits, find jobs and get on their feet. The parents will be working hard to learn English, and they will be doing all they can to become independent.
Money alone isn’t enough. On-going, personal support is necessary. Fortunately, a network of caring volunteers is already in place to support the family during the nine months and beyond.
The Migrant Ministry in Oak Park, IL will locate housing and furnishings for the family and accompany them on their journey to independence. The family will have a mentor to teach them the ropes of living in the U.S. Helpful volunteers will connect the family to the services they need and provide ongoing assistance. The Migrant Ministry and associated groups are ready to lend a hand.
OUR part is to raise the necessary funds to support one family for nine months. We appreciate any help you can offer. Please share this with your networks.
Thank you so very much.
Cathy and Jim
The Migrant Ministry is an initiative of the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park. It is the fiscal agent which will manage the money donated through this Go Fund Me effort, and it will provide ongoing, personal support to the family. This organization initially helped migrants living in and near a Chicago police station. When winter hit, volunteers of Migrant Ministry worked with staff members of the Village of Oak Park to move them to temporary shelter. It is now working to resettle families into apartments so they can have stable housing and begin their new lives. The Migrant Ministry also runs St. Edmund’s Center which provides breakfast, blankets, and warm clothing twice a week.
For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit these websites:
Organizer
Cathy and Jim Angell
Organizer
Naperville, IL