Two years ago, a pair of foothills-area churches teamed up to help make a home for an Afghanistan family, furnishing an apartment for them with everything from furniture to paper towels. The family’s patriarch had worked as an interpreter for U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan.
“He said it was too much,” remembered Carolyn Hohne, project coordinator for the Nesting a Refugee home project. “I said, ‘You risked yours and your family’s life to help our armed services.’ Providing the contents of the apartment was the least we could do for him and his family.”
This spring, they’re doing it again. And they need the larger community’s help.
United Methodist Church of Evergreen, Bailey’s Deer Park United Methodist Church and Evergreen Lutheran Church are raising money and donations to furnish and outfit another home. They’re working with the African Community Center, a Denver nonprofit that helps refugees rebuild their lives in Colorado.
Hohne, a member of Evergreen’s United Methodist Church, first learned about ACC and its home program three years ago. While ACC finds the home, it asks for donations and help from volunteers to furnish it and deliver those items to the unit. Many refugees come to a new country with limited funds. Nesting a Refugee is designed to not only get them off on solid footing in a new country but send a message of welcome.
Hohne felt it was a good project for her church, and Deer Park United Methodist agreed to work with them on it. This year, Evergreen Lutheran is joining the effort.
“Some of these people have been in refugee camps, and haven’t known a home in a long time, so we provide everything — including toilet paper,” she said. “They deserve this beginning, here in this country. Two years ago, we completely set up an apartment for a refugee family from Afghanistan, and we did the same thing last year.”
Volunteers don’t typically meet the families or learn much beyond the ages of the children and their needs.
“They could come from anywhere in the world,” Hohne said. “We get a list of what they need, and we get the community involved in filling it.”
The churches then deliver the items to the family’s new home. In the last two cases, those have been apartments in Aurora.
“It’s not a huge commitment and it’s not a lot of work,” said Hohne, who has been involved in church projects throughout her life. “Without hesitation, this is the most rewarding ministry I’ve ever been involved in. It’s so tangible, it gets a lot of people involved, and you see you’re making a difference. It’s an easy thing for our churches to say yes to.”
This year, the churches are creating a home for a family of six.
To sign up to contribute items, visit Sign Up Genius Nesting.
New or gently used items can be dropped off from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 7 at the United Methodist Church of Evergreen, 3757 Ponderosa Drive, Evergreen. To make alternative arrangements, email office@evergreenumc.org.