Zinab, from Sudan, left, will get an apron from Amy Dott Harmer, govt director for the Utah Refugee Connection, on the Serve Refugees Sharehouse in South Salt Lake on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Megan Nielsen, Deseret Information
Youngsters’s backpacks are being collected as a part of a back-to-school drive on the Serve Refugees Sharehouse in South Salt Lake on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Megan Nielsen, Deseret Information
Have you ever ever felt such as you didn’t slot in, particularly as a child? Perhaps you moved mid-school yr, or your loved ones had much less cash than your neighbors and your garments have been second hand somewhat than model title. Or possibly you have been extra of a bookworm somewhat than an athlete. Perhaps you had no musical or different inventive skills for the varsity expertise present.
It’s an expertise that's awkward, uncomfortable and, relying on how traumatic, can have a lifelong impression in your vanity.
Now, think about that you're a little one on the point of go to high school and all the things is totally different. The language is totally different, the smells are totally different, the pores and skin coloration of most of the folks round you is totally different and now, you get to navigate a college system that's totally different.
Scary, proper?!
In a single small means, although, we can assist refugee kids “slot in” — with a backpack that appears like everybody else’s.
Backpack drive
Amy Dott Harmer, the manager director of Utah Refugee Connection, is spearheading a backpack drive for refugee faculty kids. The primary yr, a few decade in the past, the group gave out just a few hundred backpacks. Final yr, the nonprofit gave out 5,000 backpacks. This yr, with simply two weeks to go till backpacks are distributed, she has 100.
That is the place we locally are available in. We can assist enhance that quantity from 100 to greater than 5,000 within the subsequent two weeks. We will spearhead a neighborhood backpack drive, we are able to fill and donate wherever from one to many backpacks, we are able to decide up a dozen containers of crayons to go in different backpacks, or we are able to volunteer to be a drop-off location.
To maintain issues truthful, the contents of the backpacks should be the identical. Right here’s the listing: A brand new backpack with a one-inch or 1.5-inch three-ring binder, three pens, two wood pencils and pencil sharpeners, packaged lined paper, glue stick, eraser, spiral pocket book, 12-count coloured pencils, 24-count crayons, blunt nostril scissors and a glue stick. You possibly can take them to the “Sharehouse” situated at 3134 S. 300 East, Monday or Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., no later than Aug. 2. Or, you may drop them off at one of many many areas listed on their social media posts.
Youngsters’s backpacks are being collected as a part of a back-to-school drive on the Serve Refugees Sharehouse in South Salt Lake on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Megan Nielsen, Deseret Information
Packing a giant punch
The Utah Refugee Connection is a small nonprofit that packs a giant punch relating to serving to a few of the 65,000 refugees at present residing in Utah. Run totally on volunteer labor and donations, the nonprofit collected and distributed over $1 million in in-kind donations final yr.
Along with the back-to-school backpacks, in addition they host vacation events, assist present new automotive seats, pack-and-plays, and strollers, in addition to menstrual provides, diapers and wipes and present playing cards for gasoline. In addition they sponsor refugee cultural nights, when members of the group can come and be taught extra in regards to the totally different cultures represented by Utah’s refugee group. Final yr, they educated over 1,000 folks.
Their targets embody serving to Utahns study, serve and provides to native refugees and to assist refugees turn into self-sufficient. For instance, if a refugee attends eight hours value of courses with a accomplice group — studying English, for instance — they obtain a certificates of completion that they then convey to the Sharehouse. There, they'll select a laundry equipment or a private equipment with important provides. This spring, the Sharehouse was giving out 200 kits per week to refugees engaged on enhancing themselves, and now their provides should be replenished. It’s a great downside to have.
Harmer instructed me that Utahns are beneficiant folks, however they don’t all the time know what to do. Filling backpacks is a technique to assist our neighbors, but when backpacks don’t float your boat, then discover a company that's doing good in an space you care about — homelessness, meals insecurity, educating stitching abilities or any variety of different prospects. Name the group and ask them what they want.
Then, go and do.