My  name is Carolynn Hoye, from Walnut Creek, California. I'm sure many of you, like me, have read about the Syrian refugee crisis. It is the greatest humanitarian crisis in our time, perhaps in all of history as far as we know.  I was so overwhelmed by what I was reading but didn't know what to do. I kept thinking how it would feel to be in a foreign country with my kids. Alone. Unfamiliar. Scared.  So I went on a search three months ago.  First I stopped into the Walnut Creek Islamic Center, and found that there are several families in my own community. One of which is Khaled Awad and his two children. We have gotten to know them. Have had them for dinners, attended a joyous birthday celebration for his daughter.  Most importantly offered friendship. We have been blessed and honored by these relationships. 

Briefly, Khaled was a successful businessman in Damascus. He was imprisoned after being caught trying to secretly help people within the cities being held captive by their government. Imprisoned. Tortured. Forced to relinquish everything for his freedom. I can't give details but basically he came here as a political asylum refugee with nothing. NOTHING.  He has been learning the language, getting acclimated to our culture and establishing himself in the IT industry. Two months ago he was able to bring his kids over. Weeks after they arrived their school in Syria was bombed!

What we are trying to raise here is enough for him to catch up on his rent, keep car insurance up to date and give him a few months to get on his feet as his income increases. He did not ask for this. We are doing this. He has never asked us for anything. When you read the numbers, millions displaced, it can feel almost crippling. How can we make a difference? By helping one family at a time. This family.

The funds will go directly to Khaled to pay three months past due rent.