ROCKFORD—Catholic Charities is always ready to spread the word about the challenges facing refugees who come into the Rockford Diocese.
Janet Biljeskovic, program director of Refugee Resettlement Services, recently took the story to members of the International Affairs interest group of the Rockford Branch of American Association of Univeristy Women on Sept. 25.
She told the women about the needs each new immigrant has — from a coat as soon as he or she arrives to household goods and food.
Asked about whether a group or church could sponsor a refugee family, Biljeskovic said the lead time for refugee arrivals is short, only about two weeks. That means Refugee Resettlement workers must take care of the initial needs in such little time that coordinating those needs with another group can be difficult.
“Before the family comes, we don’t know the sizes (for clothing),” she said. “It’s hard to predict specifics.”
She encouraged them to think about ways they could help any newcomer who arrives with nothing.
Among those things might be collections of gift certificates for clothing and/or household goods.
She also encouraged them to consider volunteering to help refugees learn English or to drive them to new jobs until they are able to get driver’s licenses and vehicles.
To learn more about refugee needs, call Biljeskovic at 815/399-1709.