Syrian Refugee Family Update: October 22, 2021

We reached our $5000 fundraising goal! We are so excited, but please feel free to keep donating, as the need is great for the family. Rent is $1300 a month, so any donation helps them out. The Immigrant Solidarity Team thanks you for your generosity and support. The family is settling in, but it will take time. Carol Nielsen has gotten the mother a sewing machine as she sews for a living. Jane Kenamore is arranging rides for them to the doctor, so please reach out to Jane if you can help out with that as those arise.

We also had a few people ask us about the status of the Haj Khalaf family who we sponsored back in 2016 and who are related to this new family. Here’s an update about them:

Both Mohammad and Aya (who were young adults when they arrived) have gotten married. Aya and her husband just had their second son on 10/16/21 (pictured above). Mohammad and his wife have one child with another child on the way. They and the oldest sister (Beraa) and her husband have all moved to Louisville, KY.  That leaves Aya and her husband and the youngest son (Uday) here in Skokie. Both Aya and Uday began college at Oakton in the fall of 2020. Aya is not attending this fall because of her pregnancy and Uday is now working full time to support his parents and taking a single class. Aya will go back to school pretty soon, hopefully. The parents continue to have health issues,but are doing okay.

Thanks again to the UCE community for your compassion and support.