Partners In Service
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Pick Up and Delivery Drivers
One of the highlights of the recent resettlement of refugees in St. Louis has been the service partnerships formed with the International Institute of St. Louis – the main refugee resettling agency in St. Louis. Pushed hard to meet the needs of a very large and unexpected stream of Afghan refugees, the International Institute has reached out to organizations like CFNA, Oasis International, Welcome Neighbor and more, to help provide the needed assistance.
Given the fact that many Afghan refugees had to flee their country in the midst of chaos with little more than the clothes on their backs, they found themselves in desperate need of winter clothing upon arrival in St. Louis. Accordingly on January 18, CFNA organized its 3rd Shoe & Winter Coats distribution. This, together with two previous distributions provided more than 130 Afghans with these badly needed items. Still more will be served by additional distributions during the next few days.
This support has been appreciated, not only by those who received the coats and shoes, but by our friends at the International Institute as well. As Najeeb, the International Institute staff person responsible for coordinating distributions put it, “You are helping a lot of Afghan people and have done a big job collecting and bringing shoes and coats for these people. Thank you for helping with the work of the Institute by serving our new Afghan friends.”
None of this would have been possible without the financial support and active participation of the thousands of members of Lutheran congregations in the area, as well as hundreds of students in Lutheran schools. These good efforts combined with the generosity of the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis provided a tidal wave of support. In addition to an extremely generous amount of financial support and a huge quantity of household use items, more than 400 coats and 500 pairs of shoes have been made available for distribution.
CFNA also extends its thanks to the International Institute for having provided this great partnership opportunity. Additionally, our thanks also goes out to the dozens of volunteers who helped gather, organize, stage and distribute what has been gathered. No doubt CFNA volunteer Susan Spitz captured the spirit of this Lutheran community engagement as she observed – “I know the need is overwhelming, but I am happy to do my small part and help.”
Mostly, we thank our gracious Lord for His bountiful blessings including this special opportunity to be of service to those in need.
By Rev. Stanish Stanley, CFNA Executive Director with
Rev. Al Buckman, CFNA Board Chair
