You Are Welcome Here

Whether it’s providing blankets and supplies to families affected by hurricanes or tornadoes, or providing protection to communities fleeing their homes from war, or supporting persecuted people seeking asylum in the United States, CWS and its supporters are there to help. One of only nine agencies that help the U.S. government resettle refugees here in the United States, CWS is there on arrival to give a warm welcome and say “you are welcome here.”

When people seeking asylum are released from government custody to await their court date, a network of CWS-supported respite shelters provide them with “a warm place to sleep, good food to eat, a chance to bathe, and space to rest for a day or two.”

Not only does CWS provide relief upon arrival, they also provide unaccompanied children, families, and individuals with the essentials for the next phase of their journey. The CWS Welcome Backpacks contain a selection of carefully chosen items for the days ahead: food and water, children’s activities, a blanket, basic hygiene items and personal protective equipment, all packed in a sturdy backpack. In August 2021, MPOWERD was proud to become a partner and have our Luci Solar Lights included in the CWS Welcome Backpacks.

A CWS group gathered in Edmond, OK to assemble 1,000 Welcome Backpacks for people seeking asylum from Afghanistan. After Afghanistan fell to the Taliban and thousands of Afghans started arriving on military bases in the United States, the group shipped the backpacks to teams across the U.S. for deployment for these newest neighbors. Many of the families arriving from Kabul had nothing but the clothes on their backs and the hope of a better life. Not only do the backpacks serve as relief for the days ahead, but the gesture behind the backpacks shows an appreciation for human rights defenders and gratitude to people who have risked their lives to serve our country in times of peril.

“The CWS Welcome Backpacks came just in time to help Afghans, but are also a tangible way to support other displaced people,” says Rev. Rebekah Belase, Senior Director of Funds Development and the organizer of the backpack assembly event.

In October, 2021 our CEO Seungah Jeong joined CWS Executive VP Maurice Bloem on his 10th annual 100 Mile Hunger Walk to raise awareness and funds for people facing hunger and poverty. Everyone at MPOWERD is proud to be associated with causes that aim to uplift underserved communities, and we’re thankful for our partner, CWS, in providing our Luci Solar Lights to migrant children and families.

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Support our work with amazing organizations like CWS by donating a light here!