BAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, OCTOBER 27, 2017
REFUGEE,
continued from Page A1
Africa – and they are known
as “free cases,” which means
they don't have any other
connections in the United
States.
Catholic Charities and
Lutheran
Community
Services are able to assist
resettled
families
and
individuals for 90 days, but
even that requires boots on the
ground to arrange everything
from housing, health care,
employment,
English
education, and transportation.
That's where Anya and Doug's
group, Salem for Refugees,
steps in.
“We form mentor teams
of six to eight people to walk
alongside refugees as friends
and guides on the resettlement
journey. The teams will go up
and meet them at the airport
and help them get a house
set up, teach them how and
where to shop, how to manage
fi nances and even invite
them for holidays and other
outings. The mentors become
their main connections and,
we hope, open the door to
connecting with the greater
community,” Anya said.
In addition to the mentor
teams that work with
individual families, Salem
for Refugees has resource
teams dedicated to building
local housing, employment,
healthcare
transportation,
and education networks for
refugees to tap into.
Those teams have made
it possible for refugees to
get health screening at West
Salem Clinic rather than
traveling to Portland, and one
local business owner is now
working to set up a furniture
rehabbing business for the
primary purpose of hiring
resettled refugees.
“The idea is to make it a
one-to-two year program
and the employees will
graduate with certain skills
and certifi cations as well as
job prospects,” Anya said.
“Overall, what we've found
is that refugees tend to be
incredibly hardworking and
grateful for the opportunity.
Opportunities like this will
let them build skills and work
on language acquisition at the
same time.”
Salem for Refugees also
accepts and donates Restart
Kits for arriving families
who often arrive with only
the clothes on their back and
most cherished possessions.
“We had a family of fi ve
arrive a few weeks ago with
three suitcases between them,”
Anya said. One suitcase per
person is more typical, but
hardly enough to start over in
a new country.
Restart Kits can include a
huge variety of items centered
around particular rooms in a
home. A Personal Care Kit can
include toothpaste, shampoos,
deodorants and toilet paper. A
Bedding Kit includes blankets,
sheets, mattress pads and
pillows. A full list of kits and
possible contents can be found
at the Salem for Refugees
website, salemforrefugees.org.
The biggest hurdle for
refugees is often the culture
shock of moving to a new
country where isolation is
becoming more and more
common. Refugees often
experience
three
types
of trauma on the road to
resettlement,
Anya
said,
“The fi rst is being forced to
leave their home country,
second is the trauma of the
refugee camp where they're
in a survival mode, then the
trauma of resettlement.”
In a perfect world, it would
be a speedy process, but the
sheer number of refugees
worldwide has lengthened the
average stay in a refugee camp
to between six and 10 years.
Resettlement also comes
with a whole new set of
challenges. Anya said one
recent arrival earned his
driver's license and Salem for
Refugees was able to supply
him with a cheap vehicle.
When they went to get him
insurance, quotes ranged
between $150 to $200 a
month because the man was a
“new driver.”
“It's things we take for
granted that end up being
the biggest surprises. Most
of us got our driver's licenses
young and were added to our
parents insurance where we
might pay only a part of the
overall cost. By the time we
get insurance on our own,
we have a driving record and
can get more reasonable rates.
$150 a month is a challenge
for a family trying to restart
their lives. It's going to take
three years for him to get a
more reasonable rate,” she
said.
In addition to helping
their partners check boxes
for the bureaucracy, Anya said
Salem for Refugees is mostly
about making space for new,
international neighbors in
Salem-Keizer.
“They've all had hopes and
dreams just like us,” Anya said.
“They want to live in safety
and have places where their
children can get an education.
Our organization is about
fi nding out how Salem-
Keizer can be a home and a
place where people can build
a new life.”
For more information, or
to get involved on a Salem
for Refugees mentor or
resource team, email info@
salemforrefugees.org.
Leaf haul returns Nov. 18
The Fall Leaf Haul is scheduled for Saturday,
Nov. 18 and Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. at Brown’s Island Demolition Landfi ll,
located at 2895 Faragate St. S in Salem.
Homeowners may drop off grass clippings
and leaves to turn them into local compost.
Properly disposing of leaves keeps them out of
storm drains, preventing clogged storm drains
and fl ooding.
Seniors and disabled residents can call Cen-
ter 50+ at 503-588-6303 for help transporting
bagged leaves to collection sites. You must sign
up in advance.
To volunteer, call Leo Gonzalez (503-589-
2195) at the Public Works Department.
The Fall Leaf Haul program is sponsored
by the City of Salem, Marion County Public
Works Environmental Services, Salem garbage
and recycling haulers, and neighborhood and
community groups.
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