For 33 months, the Social Justice Committee here at St Lucas UCC, has supported an Afghan immigrant family. In October 2022, St. Louis became the destination of hundreds of Afghan refugees. We collected household goods here at the church, and delivered them to the International Institute, which St. Louis overwhelmed with donations, from mattresses to shoes.
Our group then answered the call from the International Institute for sponsors for the incoming refugees. The family that we helped, left their Afghan home in August of 2022, travelled to Jordan with the US military’s help, then Germany, then Indiana, where their third child was born, making him an American citizen.
Since their arrival, they have moved to South County near Union Road and River des Peres, the dad works in a grocery store and the kids are thriving in school. In these last months, we have helped them sporadically, recently with medical and dental care, and most recently with a sewing machine purchase, thanks to a very generous church member.
Our Committee is now moving on in other directions, as is the family. And St. Louis now can see more refugees on the horizon. St. Lucas UCC is a generous church, and our next challenge will soon appear.
Thank you, you generous members of St. Lucas United Church of Christ.
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