We know that the work we do wouldn’t be possible without others. This was so apparent in our work helping to resettle families in Minneapolis - we needed volunteers to help us find items, and then really needed them to set up the apartments. It was a lot of work. In order to find some neighbors who might be able to help us, a few staff posted on NextDoor — a social media site local to the neighborhood you live in. Ashley, a woman who runs an urban farm in Northeast Minneapolis with her husband Chris called California Street Farm, saw one of the posts and offered to donate fresh produce to the family. Can you imagine having beautiful fruits and vegetables available after a long, tiring journey? And knowing that someone cared enough to get them for you? This was a gesture we were so excited to share. Naturally, we were ecstatic, and happily accepted a cooler filled with fresh carrots, radishes, cucumbers, and more for the family. In addition to them, another one of our … [Read more...] about A Cornucopia of Care
Archives for October 2019
A Fresh Start
Refugee families in the U.S. face a lot of new challenges. For the adults, it's settling into their new home and figuring out ways to support their family. But for kids, it's all about learning the ropes of their new school - and making all new friends. When we partnered up with the International Institute of Minnesota to help welcome new refugee families to the Twin Cities, one of the things we prioritized was coming up with ways to help kids acclimate and prepare them for the things they'll need when the school year starts, but also that will help them connect with other kids in the neighborhood. So we got to work...new backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, markers, and more. We found a bike that would be the right size for each kid, so that they can explore their new neighborhood and meet new friends nearby. We rounded up some soccer balls, because soccer is such a beloved sport for kids everywhere. Inside, we put together a plentiful collection of puzzles, books, … [Read more...] about A Fresh Start
Everyday People, Extraordinary Kindness
For Lynn, doing the doable is her bread and butter. She's the Accounts Payable & Payroll Accountant at the Alight Minneapolis office, but when she's not making sure everyone gets their pay check, she's going the extra mile to make refugees families feel at home in her home town. We put out a call to staff and volunteers to help welcome refugee families to the Twin Cities. And that very same day Lynn was on the case. She set about shopping, filling her car with items for the next family to arrive. Next she roped her family in, making it a family activity to scour Facebook marketplace to find used options, and went shopping to find new ones. They picked up a set of bunk beds, two full sized beds, a microwave, a kitchen table and chairs, a coffee table, backpacks, kids' supplies, insulated lunch boxes, and cleaning supplies. But Lynn didn't stop there...but she offered to let us use her flatbed trailer to move items, and came to help move the items inside the family's new … [Read more...] about Everyday People, Extraordinary Kindness
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
There's a reason your mom always told you to hand write your thank you notes. There's something warm and fuzzy about opening up a message written by a friend or loved one, something personal about a letter just for you. Here in Minneapolis, we've been partnering with the International Institute of Minnesota to help welcome newly arrived refugees families to the Twin Cities. And one of the very best ways we could think of showering those families with love and support is with messages of welcome - waiting for them when they get home. When resettling the last group of incoming families, we recruited volunteers to help. Together we created a visual welcome for each family in their new home, made up of messages and written with care. Each note is handwritten and in the family's native language, adding a note of something familiar in a new place. So far we've written notes in French, Kiswahili, Thai, and English! A note of welcome adds a human touch to a process that can … [Read more...] about Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Filled with Generosity
Abbe and her seven year old daughter, Lucia, saw a message from us about needing help resettling a family in Minneapolis. Moved and wanting to lend a hand, Abbe took a day off from her job as a pediatrician - and she and Lucia came down to our Alight offices in Minneapolis to learn more. We were so excited to see them, and were floored when we realized their incredible willingness to jump right in. So we put our heads together and came up with a plan... We needed some things at Costco that could be purchased in bulk, and that could be placed in the new family's home before they arrived. So Abbe and Lucia got right to it - and off they went with shopping list in hand. Lucia had brought her pad of paper and pen along, and she diligently recorded each item that was needed, taking her time to put a box next to each one to check off when they got to the store. So organized! Later that day, they delivered a car load of supplies to the office. Everything from toilet paper, … [Read more...] about Filled with Generosity
Coming Home
It's been 30 years since Aanne and her family, Oromo refugees from Ethiopia, were resettled in the U.S. They never forgot the experience - or their gratitude toward the people who welcomed them in those first few days. Today, more Oromo families are coming to the Twin Cities. And Aanne and her mom wanted to welcome them in the same way they had been welcomed - warmly and with generosity. They decided to get together and cook homemade, traditional meals for a newly arriving family. All of the meals were ready and waiting for them, with labels showing what each item was. Along with fresh fruit, veggies, and injera bread, every meal was halal - made by Oromo women for an Oromo family! The pair also brought in a traditional table cloth to really make the kitchen feel familiar, a signal that although they've come a long way, they're really coming home. … [Read more...] about Coming Home