PSCOM Refugee Initiative Fundraiser
Donation protected
Asalaamu Alaikum,
We are a group of medical students attending Penn State University College of Medicine. We have become involved in the Refugee Initiative over the past year and have been doing our best to aid eleven Syrian families recently resettled in Harrisburg. So far, our activities together have consisted of transporting the families to the local farmer’s market to purchase fresh produce, gathering and distributing personal donations, setting up fundraisers, and tutoring some of the kids in English and other subjects every Friday to help them keep up in their new schools.
One of our families, in particular, has been having issues finding employment due to the language barrier.On top of that, they have recently been issued a fine of $1700 by the landlord due to inability to pay for rent, which is due by June 25th. However, this is not an isolated situation.
Keeping up with rent, heating and utility costs, food, clothing for multiple children, medical expenses, educational expenses, household supplies, and a myriad of other needs (e.g. lack of access to transportation, language skills) simply outpaces available resources. Catholic Charities of Harrisburg has been an excellent primary short-term support system for the refugees here in south-central PA, but the needs of the resettled families extend far beyond what Catholic Charities alone are able to provide.
Now, we are asking for your help in making Harrisburg a permanent home for these eleven families. All funds raised will be used to address the above needs and those that emerge as the families continue to acclimate to Central Pennsylvania. If you are interested in donating clothes, household supplies, or other resources, please contact Rahima Khatun at [email redacted].edu
We are a group of medical students attending Penn State University College of Medicine. We have become involved in the Refugee Initiative over the past year and have been doing our best to aid eleven Syrian families recently resettled in Harrisburg. So far, our activities together have consisted of transporting the families to the local farmer’s market to purchase fresh produce, gathering and distributing personal donations, setting up fundraisers, and tutoring some of the kids in English and other subjects every Friday to help them keep up in their new schools.
One of our families, in particular, has been having issues finding employment due to the language barrier.On top of that, they have recently been issued a fine of $1700 by the landlord due to inability to pay for rent, which is due by June 25th. However, this is not an isolated situation.
Keeping up with rent, heating and utility costs, food, clothing for multiple children, medical expenses, educational expenses, household supplies, and a myriad of other needs (e.g. lack of access to transportation, language skills) simply outpaces available resources. Catholic Charities of Harrisburg has been an excellent primary short-term support system for the refugees here in south-central PA, but the needs of the resettled families extend far beyond what Catholic Charities alone are able to provide.
Now, we are asking for your help in making Harrisburg a permanent home for these eleven families. All funds raised will be used to address the above needs and those that emerge as the families continue to acclimate to Central Pennsylvania. If you are interested in donating clothes, household supplies, or other resources, please contact Rahima Khatun at [email redacted].edu
Organizer
Syrian Refugee Initiative
Organizer
Hershey, PA
