Welcoming a Migrant Family at Augustana

Posted on by jimvondracek

October 26, 2023

Dear Friends,

At our congregational council meeting last week, the Council decided that Augustana would accept an invitation from the Hyde Park-Kenwood Interfaith Council to house a migrant family in the church. Today, we welcomed Barbara and Luis, their toddler (also named Barbara), and Barbara’s mother, Petra. Petra and Barbara are from Venezuela, and Luis is from Ecuador. After a flurry of grocery shopping and putting together camp beds, now they are playing with Barbara, waiting to have dinner with campus ministry and then a good night’s sleep after a long stay at the District 3 police station.

There are several ways in which you can support them, and those who will likely take their place after they have moved on to a more settled life:

  • There is a great need right now among migrants for winter coats, boots and sturdy athletic shoes, warm clothes and things like socks, hats and gloves. If you have some gently used items, you can drop them off here at church.
  • Ditto your gently used bedding and towels. There were about one hundred people standing outside the District 3 police station today. People who volunteer their time to serve them say that people are sleeping outside now, because there’s no more space inside the station. If you add in children in diapers, they go through a lot of bedding without washers and dryers.
  • Barbara will be cooking for the family, so if you’d like to contribute food, rice, beef, chicken, onions and peppers, eggs and oranges are all good things to give.
    • Any overflow food can go into our Love Fridge. In the spring, the university did a brief study of use of the Fridge, and estimated that one hundred people visit each day, putting in and taking out. Sounds right to us. There’s always a need for food that people can eat with a minimum of preparation, like small jars or packs of peanut butter, crackers, tuna and chili with pull-top tabs, heat-and-eat mac and cheese, small oranges. But things like rice, beans and pasta are also welcome. There are lots of families who live in houses and apartments who need food assistance. Remember that the Fridge has a freezer, and shelves for dry goods.
  • Luis and the family will need to visit a laundromat or someone’s washer and dryer soon. Ditto the showers at Kenwood UCC or someone’s home. If you can provide transportation or hot water, let one of us know.
  • If you are a Spanish speaker, they would like to meet you!

The flow of migrants is going to continue for a long time. This is a good step for us to take to begin meeting the need in partnership with other churches in Hyde Park. Thanks for your support of this ministry.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Nancy and Pastor Matt