The Basilica is preparing to welcome families to the U.S. who previously helped our troops in Afghanistan. You can walk with these families whose journeys have brought them to Minnesota by joining a Basilica Circle of Welcome team.
These Afghan families will come with Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) legal status, but need help finding their way through our community and culture.
Basilica Circle of Welcome Teams are groups of three or more volunteers that get to know an individual family, help identify their needs, then provide support for one year. The Basilica contributes financial resources to help with those needs.
Together with the Community Sponsorship Hub, Circle of Welcome Teams provide support with:
Housing — Searching for and helping secure affordable housing. Frequently, the most urgent need for refugees is housing. Community Sponsorship Hub will help them find temporary housing when they arrive. More permanent housing will be needed. The team will help the family find the best options by researching available apartments or houses that fit their needs, then help them move.
Legal Services — Helping the family identify and connect with free or affordable legal assistance so they can apply for status adjustment. May include driving to legal appointments.
Schooling/Language Services — Helping families determine which school their children should enroll in, connecting families with the appropriate resources in school districts, visiting the school, and helping make sure enrollment is complete.
For college-aged refugees, volunteers help complete enrollment at universities, community colleges, or trade schools.
For adults who aren’t in school, team members help find resources for English as a Second Language instruction if needed.
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Job preparedness/searching — Linking to additional Basilica and other resources, and helping with interview preparation, resume writing, and job searching. Once refugees have been placed in a job, team members may occasionally revisit the job situation to make sure it’s still a good fit.
Health Care and Medical/Dental — Helping navigate the medical/dental system, potentially helping them sign up for medical assistance, accompanying refugees to medical/dental visits, and finding affordable treatment.
Food — Taking refugees shopping for groceries and helping them identify Halal markets. Helping them sign up for SNAP benefits and cash assistance with the county.
Furniture — Helping families determine the furniture and other household items they’ll need, then assisting them in securing those items from a local non-profit group. The Basilica can help with furniture needs.
Clothing — Helping to secure appropriate clothing for Minnesota’s weather.
Fellowship — Welcoming the families by having meals together, taking them on outings, celebrating special events, and generally getting to know the family. Sometimes, long-lasting friendships develop.
Learn more about how you can help refugees settle in Minnesota at mary.org/refugee-immigration-ministry/.
Writers:
Dorene W. is a member of the Immigrant Support Ministry and coordinator of the Circle of Welcome Teams that work with refugees.
Amanda K., communications volunteer with the Immigrant Support Ministry. Amanda and her family have been Basilica members since 2011, and she has been involved with several ministries in that time.
Learn more about how you can help at mary.org/refugee-immigration-ministry/.