May 2023: Thank you to all who participated in Refugee Ministry's spring Welcome-Kit supply drive!
From Jim Bono and Lee Thomsen: “A huge thank you to the OSLC congregants who helped us put together a welcome kit for a World Relief Chicagoland refugee family. We now have all the nonfurniture items needed to help a refugee family move into an apartment of their own. This will create a stable home environment from which to begin their job search and English as a Second Language training. We are very grateful to everyone who participated!!”
Our Saviour’s has a long history of working with World Relief Chicagoland to resettle individuals with refugee status in DuPage and Kane counties. https://chicagoland.worldrelief.org/
We solicit cash donations to help with immediate resettlement needs (food, bus pass etc.,) To donate, click here: https://onrealm.org/oslc/-/give/refugees
We also encourage congregants to pursue one of our many different volunteer opportunities to work with refugee families. This includes everything from pulling together home furnishings to tutoring to providing transportation to medical appointments. To volunteer, click here: https://worldrelief.org/chicagoland/volunteer/
Our Saviour’s helps resettle refugees from around the world, but at present, we are concerned in particular with helping to settle refugees from Afghanistan and the Ukraine. If you can volunteer or donate, the need is especially great now.
OSLC groups (or a group of families) can make a significant impact by gathering the materials for a Welcome Pack. These are the materials (aside from furniture) needed to furnish an apartment. Plates, towels, and other basic supplies are needed so an apartment is move-in-ready when a family arrives at O’Hare. Welcome Pack materials are gathered and delivered to the World Relief office in Carol Stream. A list of Welcome Pack items can be found here: https://worldrelief.org/content/uploads/2021/08/Welcome-Kit-Donation-Guide.pdf
The Refugee ministry also typically sponsors donation drives between Halloween and Thanksgiving for new or clean, gently used winter coats. Gift cards (Jewel, Walmart, Uber, etc.) can be mailed directly to the Carol Stream office at 191 S. Gary Ave., Carol Stream, IL 60188.
Finally, Our Saviour’s has historically accepted gifts of furniture and housewares which are used to furnish refugee apartments. Because of reduced storage capacity at World Relief’s new Carol Stream office, it may not be possible to accept every gift. If you have a potential gift, please fill out this online form and we will let you know if the gift can be accepted at the present time. https://form.jotform.com/203165438843054