Bridge to Self Reliance 2000 refugees San Diego CA

This month 3 new refugee families from Myanmar, Dafur and Iraq have been referred to us, and a backlog of others is on the way. 10 children  and 11 adults are included in the new families.  Keeping our stock of warm clothing and basic household goods up, so that no none is turned away without items they need is always a concern in the winter months.  Today 15 new blankets, collected for the Network, are arriving at staff meeting.  All of them will be needed immediately, as the wind whistles under the doors of the tiny apartments, in City Heights, Normal Heights, El Cajon and other areas of San Diego County, and family members huddle together for warmth.  Sometimes, at this time of year, there is far less fresh produce available to us from the food bank and Feeding America, for distribution to our needy families; so we need to be ready to add rice, cooking oil and protein more frequently.

The colder months are also the time when life seems much harder and more intimidating for those who have been uprooted, and have gone through the horrors of wars, or ethnic cleansing.  The challenges seem to loom larger, and depression often follows, for newcomers and for those who have been here longer, alike.  Socks and warm clothing are critical in restoring hope.  A kettle, some bed pillows or a packet of diapers can lift jaded spirits, as well as fill an urgent need.

Your donations have kept our small truck on the road, bringing the things that make survival seem possible to families in distress.  They enable us to buy urgently needed items like medicine, or glasses for someone with badly blurred vision.  And they also enable our paid refugee staff, with their knowledge of languages and customs, to be an uplifting presence in the lives of the many families they encounter day to day.  Thank you, one and all.

Please also consider helping us in another way to bring health, joy and hope into the lives of those we serve.   The Network's project on Global Giving's web site, "Bridge to Self-Reliance - 2000 refugees in San Diego", is one of those competing for bonus money from Global Giving, in their first ever, end of year fundraising program.  We have already raised $5,845.00 and so far we have the fourth highest total.  The bonus of $500 goes to each of the 9 projects that raises the most money, but only if we have 30 individual donors, before December 30 at 9p.m. Pacific Time.  We still need 24!.  Each donation needs to be made on the form on Global Giving's website, and each donor needs to use a different credit card to be counted.  Please consider being one of the needed donors, and please spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues.  We need your help to find 24 donors of $20 (or more) in the next 10 days.