An Open Letter to the Charitable
By: Bethany Marteeny
Tags: Christmas, Refugees, Refugee Crisis, Immigration, Donations

Photo by Julie Ricard on Unsplash

As I write this letter, it is December first. The Christmas season is upon us, if you choose to celebrate. It is the season of goodwill to all men, fa-la-la-la, etc. A common Christmas scene is that of the Salvation Army bellringer, standing by the familiar red bucket and persistently ringing their bell. It is typical for me to walk by the bellringer, and out of pity or duty, I drop spare change into the bucket, and mentally check “charitable donation” off my of my Christmas to-do list. This year, however, I will be doing something different and I invite you to do the same. This December, I have a purpose for which to donate. This year, I will be donating clothes, toys, and books to the refugee center near my home.

In the last month, I have become much more aware of the refugee crisis in America. In 2019, 29,916 refugees entered the U.S. looking for a new home and a new life. Once a refugee has entered the U.S., they receive $900 from the government. This money is meant to help them resettle and start a new life. But what does one do with $900? To the English speaking and well established citizen, the answer is easy: pay rent, buy groceries, and buy new clothes. But for the new citizen, the answer is not so easy. The majority of American refugees are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, Ukraine, Eritrea, and Afghanistan. The Democratic Republic of Congo has five official languages, and none of them are English. The official language of Burma is Burmese. As for the official languages of Ukraine, Eritrea, and Afghanistan, well, they aren’t English. It is difficult enough to stay financially afloat, but it becomes much more difficult when one is unfamiliar with the language and navigating the cultural waters of a new country.

We have all heard the saying “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, but teach a man to fish and he never goes hungry”. What’s the equivalent of teaching a refugee to fish for themselves? How can we ensure the refugee population becomes self-sufficient and regains their human dignity? Recently, I sat down and spoke with a personal friend, Ani. Ani had been forced to leave Lebanon as a young girl once civil war broke out. Ani said “The biggest challenge we had as a family as that we were absolutely destitute….We arrived here with $500 to our name”. Ani explained that in Lebanon, her father was a dentist and was proud of his ability to provide. Once in America, it was difficult for her father to be so impoverished. Helping a refugee family to become self-sufficient, instead of throwing money at them, helps them to regain dignity and pride.

Helping a refugee is more than making a donation and then disappearing. The most effective way to help is through involvement and support. Ani describes a family in Los Angeles that helped her parents understand American culture and government programs. Upon arriving in America, Ani’s parents did not realize that they qualified for welfare. Ani’s parents were helped through the application program for welfare, and welfare was able to support their family for the first few years. However, welfare doesn’t help pay for college, teach them how to use a bus stop, or help them navigate a store. But, Ani’s friends did. Ani said, “My parents didn’t know anything about student aide for college, but [this family] helped us with applications and understanding the culture. They helped with the day-to-day. They helped me get my license and college applications”.

Getting connected with the community is very important for refugee families. Something as simple as a misunderstanding could be the deciding factor in not receiving college aide. I spoke with Bryan Overland, a refugee center coordinator at Jericho Road Community Health Center. Bryan’s job is to help refugees once they reach the U.S. Bryan said, “[Refugees] need help getting connected to the community, employment, and childcare”. Ani powerfully said, that without the help from that family, she is not sure where her family would be. Simple acts of kindness and support make all of the difference for refugees.

Kindness and support are only the first steps. When I think of typical ways to help refugees, I think of donations and volunteering. However, I am a college student; I am in the middle of my finals and don’t have the time to volunteer, or the finances to help. I also don’t want to be meeting new people during a pandemic, and I don’t know a second language. Luckily, there are simple solutions. Someone like me, with limited time and money, can make a large difference in the lives of refugees. Bryan Overland said “Get connected with a refugee center in your area…We accept clothes, work boots, winter clothing is important, books, and toys”. Many refugees have never seen snow or experienced a cold winter. When they arrive in the U.S, they are unprepared for the winter. Books increase exposure to language, a critical part of language development for adults and children. Many refugee children have experienced unimaginable traumas. Playing with toys allow children to experience happiness and healing, as well as express their feelings. These seemingly simple donations are necessary for refugees to assimilate to their new lives. I for one, know that I have half of an attic filled with old clothes, books, and toys, practically begging to be donated. At the risk of making assumptions, I am guessing many people have potential donations similar to mine.

That is why I have pledged to clear out my attic this year. In the spirit of giving and human kindness, I want to help the refugee community. Simple acts of kindness, friendship, and material donations can make a difference in the lives of refugees. So, this year, I hope we still continue to drop spare change in the salvation army bucket. Hey, it can’t hurt. But I hope we don’t stop at that. I hope we thoughtfully give. I hope we are able to give to the people who have lost so much-the refugee community.