Salem For Refugees

This Sunday our Community Engagement Team spent some time at Morning Star Community Church to share about Salem For Refugees and our upcoming 'Season of Giving'. This church community will be putting restart kits together, donating gently used coats and engaging in other ways during this winter season.

We are encouraged as our community continues to engage and choose to be a welcoming place for our refugees to thrive. If you are looking connect or interested in ways to help, send us a message and keep an eye for more about our 'Season of Giving'.

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming SFR Connects meeting, taking place on Monday, November 4th, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, over Zoom. This meeting, titled "Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution: A Personal Story," will focus on the nature and causes of conflict, explore how political differences can contribute to conflicts, and gain practical skills in understanding conflict. We’ll also highlight key steps in the reconciliation process and reflect on a personal story. Understanding conflicts around the world will help us better connect with refugees and understand what they have been through.

We are excited to have 2 new staff members join SFR this month! Please welcome Valeria and Olivia:

Valeria Ortiz, originally from Venezuela, joins our Employment Department and will be assisting our New Neighbors find jobs in the Salem area. When asked why she wanted to join SFR, she said "I am excited about this role because I like to give back! The support I have received from this organization has been extraordinary and I believe in replicating blessings. I resonate with our New Neighbors and would love to help them feel part of the community."

Olivia Anderson, a PNW native, joins our Housing Team as Donations Coordinator. She will be managing our donations warehouse and helping New Neighbors move into their new homes. When asked why she wanted to join SFR, she said "I look forward to working with volunteers to make spaces inviting and warm for our New Neighbors in the Salem community. I hope to learn more about what refugees appreciate about their cultures, and how I can implement their food, language, and expressions of hospitality in my daily living."

We are thrilled to have you both on the team! 🎉

🎉Donation request🎉

SFR currently has 29 High School new neighbor students enrolled in an after school tutoring program, hosted at the Salem YMCA! These high schoolers are being tutored by 17 Willamette University students, who are helping them master English and keep up with their homework.

Our high school students are also practicing their English and doing homework at home, but full and busy households can be loud! Using headphones can help them keep up with their homework, especially when younger brothers and sisters are noisy 😁 Would you consider purchasing a pack of headphones from our Amazon Wish List to help these students succeed? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2NUZUCMH6KFTZ?ref_=wl_share

Are you registered?? Salem THRIVE is in 21 days!!! Save your seat here: https://www.salemforrefugees.org/thrive

Housing Update 🏠🏠🏠🏠
Our housing team would like to say THANK YOU for all your support to get the word out and getting our new neighbors housed. We have housed 3 large families, we appreciate our Salem community's commitment to house our new neighbors!

We had an incredible time at the Corvallis THRIVE Event! Thank you to all the incredible guests, volunteers, and staff who made this event possible. Thank you also to Oregon State University university for the incredible venue and Khalo Naser Syrian Cuisine and Lounge for the wonderful food. We will see you again next year, Corvallis!

Photos:

🎉THRIVE Event Sponsors🎉

We are blown away by the support of our community sponsors! They are what make our THRIVE Benefit Event possible. Thank you so much to these community businesses and organizations!

🎉Donation request🎉

In preparation for several large families arriving in the next two weeks, we are in need of Restart Kits! Grab some friends, put together a kit, and drop it off at our office anytime Monday-Thursday 9:00 to 5:00 or Friday 9:00 to 12:00! This is an awesome and practical way to help out a new neighbor family. See full kit making instructions here:https://www.salemforrefugees.org/_files/ugd/4251b1_356b0b0eb2d643f39cfed7ee065efdf4.pdf

Today is the last day to register for our Corvallis THRIVE Event this Friday, October 11th!! Make sure to save your seat for this powerful and fun event. Register here: https://www.corvallisforrefugees.org/thrive

SFR Connects is here and we want to see you! ✨
This upcoming meeting will be on zoom and we will focus on volunteer opportunities and updates to our volunteer teams and needs. If you are looking to plug in and learn more about our organization, join us! Sign up here to get the zoom link: https://salemforrefugees.tpsdb.com/OnlineReg/40

Check your inboxes for our latest Newsletter! Didn't get a copy? Sign up here to receive our monthly announcements and updates: https://salemforrefugees.tpsdb.com/OnlineReg/40

SFR Connects is coming up again!
Last month we had a blast celebrating our 8th Birthday and we will continue to engage via zoom this month. Have you already registered to receive our links and reminders? If you have not, follow our link below and sign up. You can also check our events page and RSVP for our October 7th meeting. See you at out SFR Connects ✨
https://salemforrefugees.tpsdb.com/OnlineReg/40

🎉Donation request🎉

In order to prepare for 3 more arrivals coming next week, we are in need of restart kits! Specifically, cleaning, kitchen 2, welcome, queen bedding, twin bedding, and bathroom kits. Grab some friends, put together a kit, and drop it off at our office anytime Monday-Thursday 9:00 to 5:00 and Friday 9:00 to 12:00! This is an awesome and practical way to help out a new neighbor family.

Check out our updated Restart Kit guide here: https://www.salemforrefugees.org/_files/ugd/4251b1_4af46ff1fd104839a9cd37361588fdf4.pdf

Do you see our empty plates? We had the best planning (read: tasting) meeting with Khalo Naser Syrian Cuisine and Lounge the Corvallis restaurant who will be catering our upcoming THRIVE event! Trust us, you do not want to miss this. It was delicious! Reserve your seat for this Corvallis event here: https://salemforrefugees.tpsdb.com/OnlineReg/346

Salem Community ✨

We’re receiving two new singles this week and we have a few pantry items needed. Please visit the link here below or to see our sign-up list. Your support makes a big difference—thank you for helping us make our new neighbors feel at home!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CABA92CA6F4C43-51388750-help #/

The Corvallis THRIVE Benefit Event is in 28 days!! Have you reserved your seat? Sign up here: https://www.corvallisforrefugees.org/thrive

Please join us for powerful stories of resettlement, as well as delicious appetizers and desserts from a local international restaurant!

What: THRIVE - Corvallis For Refugees Benefit Fundraiser
When: Friday, October 11th at 4:30pm and 7pm
Where: Oregon State University Memorial Ballroom
2501 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331