Join the St. John’s Refugee Ministry and Holy Land Committee members
in helping a young Gazan Asylee Family with connections to St. John’s Norwood.
Many of you will recall our assistance 6 years ago to a young Gazan family of four who were unable to return to Gaza due to death threats from Hamas. Since that year, the Alaa and Rami Hammouda family has recently been granted asylum and is pursuing green card status. Alaa completed an M.A. in Public Health at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and is now working there, and Rami is running a booming business as a handyman. They have had two additional children (U.S. citizens.)
Alaa, true to her character, has remained active in helping Gazan families get out of Gaza (when the border was open), and managed to get her sister’s family out. In addition, she recently worked with Rutger’s University to arrange 31 full scholarships for Gazan students, including one for an M.A. in Public Health program for her sister, a Gazan nurse. That family of five, the Areej Hammouda family, is currently residing in New Brunswick, New Jersey. We have helped connect them to their community, but they have no income at the moment, and they have no warm clothing or other key necessities.
At our request, Alaa and Areej have prepared an Amazon Wish List, composed mostly of winter clothing, that individuals can use to purchase and send items to the family to sustain them through the winter. Other groups are attempting to help the family with access to food banks, transportation, and, ultimately, financial assistance to get them through. Nancy Adams recently talked with Areej, who passed her mid-term examinations with very high marks—an amazing achievement midst so much heartbreak and adjustment.
We invite you to review the attached Amazon list, and to purchase any item you may find compelling to assist this family. Once ordered, the items will be sent directly to the family in New Jersey. Feel free to share with other friends and neighbors!
https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/109Y6A8Q5SDNN
Many thanks for your consideration of this request!
Questions? Use the form below to contact parishioners Nancy Adams and Liz Jones.
Questions?
Complete this form to connect with parishioners Nancy Adams and Liz Jones.