ST. LOUIS — Today Mary Caltrider sat down with Ann Wittman and Delia Andrews to discuss an organization close to their hearts - Welcome Neighbor STL. This is an organization that helps refugees from all walks of life from around the globe. However in the fall of 2021, after the war in Afghanistan ended, the organization discovered a particular need in St. Louis as Afghan refugees arrived and needed assistance to begin a new life.
Joy Garton, a volunteer with the organization noted, "The most basic thing a person can do is lend a hand and say, welcome to St. Louis, we are glad you are here, along with a hug and a smile." The entire organization is helping to build a community based on friendship. There is a strong need.
One thing in particular the organization needs is for more volunteers to commit to partnering with a family for a year to help get their lives established in St. Louis. Within this program they recently found a way for local teens to get involved and help. The new program is called START and stands for St. Louis Teens Aid Refugees Today. This initiative provides opportunities for teens to tutor refugee children in their home, organize school collections of household items, assist in moving furniture, help with Halloween costumes, and throwing holiday themed parties to help new families as they begin to establish themselves in St. Louis. Being a welcoming new neighbor in St. Louis means a lot to these refugees who have been through so much and are ready to begin the next chapter of their lives.
The Welcome Neighbor STL organization also has a unique supper club program that provides refugee women an opportunity for income to support their families by cooking for local events or providing catering.
There are so many ways to begin helping in our community - please follow @welcomeneighborSTL on socials for more events and information on volunteer opportunities, and check out their website for more information and ways to donate: https://welcomeneighborstl.org/ways-to-donate/
