Refugee Resettlement Team greets family
By Nadine Brill

For nearly a year, people from several churches in the Newark community have been working with Catholic Family Center in Rochester to bring a refugee family to Newark.

They secured a home for the family, yet unknown, members and friends donated Furniture and money to help with the resettlement.

A little over two weeks ago, members Of the Newark Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Team went to the Rochester Intl. Airport to greet the family they had been waiting and planning for so long.

The Kennah family arrived about midnight after a two day trip from Africa and were greeted with hugs, love and warm coats for their trip to Newark. The past days have been filled with appointments with schools, doctors, and numerous meetings for the family and members of the Team.

Many interested people have donated clothing, food, transportation and love to our new family.

The family is originally from Liberia. Fanta, the mother, and her children - Mohamed (17), Lassana (16), Mawata (12), Materjay (8) and Abrahim (3) are settled in their new home and enjoying the freedom of living in the United States, and not in a refugee camp.

It has been heartwarming for everyone working with the family to see how happy they are and so eager to become a part of the Newark community.

There are many things that need to be done over the next few months to help the family, such as helping the mom learn English, transporting the family to appointments, finding appropriate jobs for those old enough to work.

If you would like to be a part of the resettlement process, or wish to help us with a monetary donation, please call me at 331.0485, or contact Debbie Gaston.

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