Merrimack
Valley People for Peace
Serving the communities of the Merrimack Valley
- Iraqi Refugees in Lowell
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In January 2009 Merrimack Valley People for Peace was infomed that Iraqi families were living in Lowell. We learned that the Iraqi families were political refugees who had been resettled here and we invited the seven families to a pot luck dinner. We shared a meal together and had table conversations as well as whole group introductions.
Following the dinner MVPP members met some of the Iraqi families in their apartments and offered assistance with preparing their resumes. In the course of conversation, it was apparent that many of the families did not have the kind of household furnishings they needed. A list of needed items was circulated to MVPP members and friends, and thus the search began for donated items. We held a second pot luck dinner in June 2009. By that time there were twelve families who attended and additional friendships were made. The Iraqi families gave MVPP a “Certificate of Appreciation” signed by each family.
We began looking for interested individuals and families to “partner” with an Iraqi family to help in their adjustment to life in the U.S., to be a family friend, to help with questions they have about American culture, interpret letters they may receive and not know what to do about, etc.
Links were made with First Parish Church in Bedford and some of the members helped find needed items for the families and some became a “partner” with an Iraqi family. In December 2009, First Parish in Bedford invited some of the Iraqi families to a Lyceum. It was well attended and the church became more involved, setting up committees and offering both emotional and financial support.
The partners and volunteers come from a variety of Christian, Jewish, Unitarian and Muslim secular and religious backgrounds. Members of the Muslim community, both locally and from the greater Boston area, are also involved as “partners” and volunteers, assisting in a variety of ways.
As of March 2010, there are twenty-six individuals/families living in Lowell and many “partners” and volunteers who are committed to welcoming the stranger in their midst.
Volunteers who are partnering with an Iraqi family should be willing to have a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and a SORI (Sexual Offender Record Information) check to protect the Iraqi families and their children.
If interested, contact Mary Todd at 978-687-7864
See
the website helpful to the Iraqis, hosted by the Unitarian Church
in Bedford MA
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Merrimack Valley
People for Peace meets monthly, on the fourth Tuesday,
at 7:30 pm, at
North Parish Church, North Andover.
(NOT DECEMBER)
Contact
Merrimack Valley People for Peace (978) 685-1389
P.O. Box 573
North Andover, MA 01845
Send material to post on the website to brian@quirk.ws