The state has agreed to house the refugees at the Quality Inn in Middleborough through June 2024 and also contracted with a restaurant to provide meals for them for at least another month, which could mean those meals would end in early November. These welcome developments decrease the urgency of what is being asked of FUUSM and give us time to plan for when our assistance may be needed. The town has received so many in-kind gifts that no more are currently needed.
Instead, needs are likely to be for specific individuals or families: e.g., medicines, formula, Uber rides to doctors, etc. (Two babies are expected in the next several weeks.) The town has completed a needs assessment of the first group. Fourteen of their children were to start school here on Oct. 9.
Regarding meals, FUUSM is exploring the possibility of working with another church or churches to coordinate what we could provide if and when needed. As a first step we hope to work with the town to arrange a meeting with representatives from the refugees to better understand what they need and the issues they face (hopefully to avoid offering things/events/food that they have little interest in or use for). We are sharing information with the North Congregational Church.
Town Manager James McGrail, on his Facebook page on Oct. 3, detailed how and where to make future donations. The most urgent current need is for translating/interpreting Haitian Creole (Spanish and Portuguese may be helpful too). For most other needs, the town seems to be working through private non-profits.
Mr. McGrail’s Oct. 3 Facebook post is as follows:
Dear Community Members, On behalf of the Town of Middleborough, I would like to extend my gratitude to the efforts being made to support our newest community members.
I am pleased to report that our families are acclimating to our town, children are starting school, and all family needs are being met. Across our departments and citizens, there is visible strength and compassion in your efforts to support our community members. There are a number of ways you can help:
Cash and Checks: The Town Manager’s Office is receiving only cash/check donations to support the families. Feel free to give a financial donation in any amount. All donations will go directly to the families and their needs.”
[Note: FUUSM is also setting up a fund to use for food, supplies, etc. that will be needed in our efforts to assist the refugees. To contribute to it, you can put a check in the plate with Haitian Refugees in the subject line. (You can also note a split between one amount for the charity of the month and another amount for the Haitian Refugees fund.) Donations to the church are tax-exempt as we are a 501(c)3 organization. We hope eventually to be able to add a Haitian Refugee option under the Donate button on the website.]
McGrail continues:
- Translators: We are in desperate need to have volunteers who speak Haitian Creole. Volunteers who speak Spanish or Portuguese may also be helpful. These volunteers will serve as hands-on interpreters or translators. Follow this link to complete the webform with the language you speak and your availability. We will be setting up times for interpreters to sit down with each family to find out their needs. [You can access this form on the town website, www.middleboroughma.gov. The link to Refugee Assistance is in a black banner across the top of the home page.]
- Donations of food, clothing, diapers, formula and water are at capacity as of Oct. 4.
- Future food donations are being coordinated by the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, located at 53 Oak Street, Middleboro, on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM. Also, many families have expressed a special desire for guava juice, brushes/combs, men’s and women’s deodorant, shaving cream and razors.
- Future clothing donations are being coordinated by Walt’s Mobile Closet and the Salvation Army, both of which are able to bring clothes that meet people’s direct needs. Walt’s Mobile Closet receives donations at Gleason Family YMCA (33 Charge Pond Rd, Wareham), the Marion Council on Aging (465 Mill St, Marion), and New Again/Refillable (inside the store, 160 North Main Street, Carver). The Salvation Army has a donation bin at the Middleborough Transfer Station at 207 Plympton Street. St. Vincent de Paul also receives clothing donations at their Thrift Store, located at 18 Canton Street, Stoughton.
- Please complete the [Refugee Assistance] webform linked to the website banner [black, across the top of the home page], if you would like to be alerted to future volunteer opportunities.
Thank you again for your interest and support! – James McGrail, Middleborough Town Manager
Background: The 142 refugees at the Quality Inn as of Oct. 3rd (78 adults and 64 children) arrived in two groups. The first group arrived on Sept. 22 consisting of people who had been housed elsewhere in the US for about a year (Red Roof Inns stopped offering housing to refugees across the country). The second group arrived about 10 days later consisting of people recently arrived in the U.S. from Texas who have been in the country for a much shorter time. It is hoped that the first group will soon qualify to get work. (Federal law and regulations prohibit refugees from working for their first 6 months in the U.S.
Our thanks to so many in the congregation for all the interest and willingness to help that you have shared! We’ll continue to provide new information as it becomes available, and ask for specific help when we know what’s needed and have a concrete plan.
–Dody Adkins-Perry and Bill Howe for the Social Justice Team
