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Food Baskets During the Holiday season, our council usually gathers and distributes food for the needy of the parish. This year, included among those helped were 3 special families. From Frank Castillo: Thank you to my brother Knights in providing food for the three Cuban families! (please see attached photos). These folks arrived here during the first week of November, from a very adverse, oppressive society. Unfortunately, given the current economic crisis experienced by this country, they haven't all found regular employment. Through your generous efforts, at least, they'll have some food during "Noche Buena" (Christmas Eve) celebrations! May the good Lord continue to bless Councl # 9880 in its service to our parish family and community! Familia Aragon
Familia CasaMayor
Sponsored by the United States Committee on Refugees
and Immigration (http://www.refugees.org/),
three Cuban families and one adult male arrived to Raleigh, North Carolina
during the first week of November 2008. Flying straight from Havana, Cuba
and provided with partially furnished apartments, I was contacted by one of
the case workers who had acquired my name given my involvement within the
Hispanic community. I immediately contacted some other Cuban-Americans in
the greater Raleigh area and asked for assistance! Luckily, I chose a great
group, including the two restaurant owners of "Havana Grill" in Cary and
"Carmen's Cuban Café" in Morrisville, who generously donated food the first
night the refugees arrived.
While the families were assigned a case worker by
USCRI, they had other needs that needed attention. I contacted the
Governor's Advisory Council of Hispanic/Latino Affairs, the Executive
Director of "El Pueblo", Lacy Elementary School and organizations like the
Knights of Columbus of St. Raphael's Catholic Church. From the time these
fourteen individuals have arrived, they have received furniture, clothing,
food, and emotional support as they re-settle into their new country! The
four children, ages ranging from four to eight years, are now attending
either "More at Four" or Lacy Elementary. The five men that have remained
(a young couple has since left to re-settle in Miami where they have
relatives) each have cell phones that they've paid for and which have
facilitated their contacts within the community. During both Thanksgiving
and Christmas, the families received food for the traditional celebratory
meals, however, I had to translate a recipe on how to prepare a "Cuban style
turkey" since this delicary is virtually unknown on the island.
Their backgrounds are varied, with three having
worked as mechanics and of those, two were also long-haul truck drivers. At
the moment, two of the women are working at a factory and at a fast food
restaurant. Unfortunately, the families have recently received notice that
the economic assistance provided by USCRI will be ending soon, so payment
for the apartment's rent will become an issue by month's end! [Tony Asion,
the Executive Director of "El Pueblo" has opened up an account to receive
any monetary donations; if you are able, please consider a contribution to
assist these recent arrivals.]
For further information about USCRI, please contact
them via:
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
2231 Crystal Drive, Suite 350, Arlington VA 22202-3711 Phone: (703) 310-1130 Email: uscri@uscridc.org I have had an excellent opportunity during these last two months to serve with these families as a mentor, a tour guide, and a friend. I can't begin to explain how fortunate we are to live in these United States. While I don't actively solicit their stories, in time, the men have disclosed the conditions they and their families were confronted with down in their homeland. The Communist regime of the Castro brothers is intimidating, capricious, deceptive and oppresive, especially when it concerns basic human rights. My only hope is that the families will soon develop here within this community, so that they can experience the greatest of their new homeland! -submitted by Brother Frank Castillo |
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