Presbyterian Churches helping refugees settle in Western New York
With local refugee resettlement agencies losing federal funding to carry out their programming, they are turning to other organizations and volunteers to get homes ready for refugees.
That was the case when 10 Presbyterian Churches in Niagara County and Buffalo helped Jewish Family Services settle 11 families earlier this month.
'As Christians, our mandate without any qualifications is to care for those who are the least of us,' said Rev. Laura Norris-Buisch of the Riverside Presbyterian Church on 84th Street.
The other Presbyterian Churches involved include Youngstown, Lewiston, Grand Island, Kenmore, Bacon Memorial on 59th Street, and Deerhurst Presbyterian in Buffalo. This group, led by Youngstown Presbyterian, first helped out JFS over two years ago in settling Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war there, setting up apartments in the area with home furnishings.
JFS is one of several organizations based in Buffalo that had its federal funds impacted due to a stop-work order the U.S. Department of State issued on Jan. 24, freezing funds meant to go to the Reception and Placement program.
During the last week of January, they reached out to Youngstown Presbyterian to help resettle 11 more families coming from countries like Afghanistan, Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina. Rev. Bob Hagel of Youngstown Presbyterian said they had to get these apartments set up within a week.
Hagel's wife Kate and the youth and family minister Monica Barner took the lead in getting this organized. Church attendees and other community members would donate furniture, bedding, kitchen items and other home furnishings to make these apartments more like a home.
'We're still going through things that were donated,' Hagel said.
Of the 11 families helped, three resettled in Niagara Falls while eight went to Buffalo. They moved into their new spaces from Feb. 8 through Feb. 10.
JFS and the four other agencies making up the Refugee Partnership of Western New York earlier this month launched a Crisis Response Fund in order to raise $1.5 million to support critical services to 731 refugees who recently arrived in Western New York. As of Feb. 14, they have raised $619,540.
This also comes as these organizations laid off some staff due to a cutoff from federal funding.
Due to the Trump administration suspending the federal refugee program, no more will be accepted for the time being. Norris-Buisch is worried about the possibility of further cuts that could harm other organizations that help the needy.
Outside of helping refugees, Riverside Presbyterian members have also helped the Homeless Alliance of WNY, Heart Love and Soul, Community Missions, and Gospel Rescue Mission.
'I hope we always strive to help those in need regardless of social background, ethnic background, or mental illness,' Norris-Buisch said. 'Where there's a need we hope we can provide.'
When Kate Hagel posted on Facebook that she and the church would be doing this, the response they got made Bob hopeful.
'People want to do good and care for one another,' Hagel said. 'Sometimes it's hard to do it. This gave people a chance to do that.'
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