One generous way some local kids are helping refugee families is by donating money from their own piggybanks to purchase welcome kit items and car seats for newly arriving families.
We wanted our children to become aware of the refugee crisis, because it affects many children like them.”A group of kids participating in HOPE Scouts (Helping Other People Everywhere), committed to supporting Arrive Ministries this winter.
“It taught them how to share what they have with others,” said Ingrid, a mother of a HOPE Scout.
“We chose Arrive Ministries for our December giving drive because we can often feel very detached from the situation of refugees.
What we did was a very simple, but tangible way to help make refugees feel more welcome in Minnesota. We wanted our children to become aware of the refugee crisis, because it affects many children like them,” said Ingrid.
Dayton Le, a 10-year-old HOPE Scout, grasped just how difficult it must be to flee ones homeland, and journey to safety.
“It must have been hard for millions of people to try to go to America. They risked their whole lives to get here. Some of them waited more than 10 years, and some of them may die waiting. Refugees have a hard life – no jobs, they are not safe, and often mistreated,” explained Dayton.
“Our parents were immigrants. We know the struggle that our parents had to overcome to make a better life for themselves and their children.”
Prior to the Welcome Kit drive, HOPE Scouts kids watched recommended videos from Arrive Ministries. This allowed for family discussions on the wroldwide refugee situation in their homes; allowing parents to answer more direct questions about the struggles refugees face.
A few of the families shared their grandparents’ refugee stories in coming to Minnesota.
“Our parents were immigrants. We know the struggle that our parents had to overcome to make a better life for themselves and their children,” said Sonny Carter, a HOPE Scouts dad.