The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Lev. 19:34

The Refugee Ministry of Christ the King Anglican Church, in collaboration with Catholic Social Services, assists a large refugee community residing in our immediate parish neighborhood. Most are from war-torn countries in eastern and central Africa such as Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, and Sudan, and were resettled in Dayton from African refugee camps. Refugees receive federal assistance for a set period of time during which they are to find jobs and become self-sufficient. Many of them have spent most of their lives in camps and are unequipped for this task. They arrive in Dayton with little or no English, education, or work experience. It's very difficult for them to find employment, and they do not have the financial means to provide basic household needs for their families. Their situation is desperate.

We have many opportunities to serve our neighbors. A brief summary of our work includes:

1. English as a Second Language and literacy classes
2. GED assistance
3. Clothing distributions scheduled around seasonal changes
4. Food pantry, cleaning, and personal hygiene product distributions
5. New household set up
6. Material aid, new baby supplies, school supplies, washer/dryer repair
7. Neighborhood meetings, in cooperation with Catholic Social Services, to increase awareness and serve refugee needs
8. Social events designed to acclimate refugees to American culture
9. Christmas caroling and Christmas food basket distribution
10. Community garden assistance in collaboration with Five Rivers MetroParks
11. Nutrition, cooking, and housekeeping classes
12. Scholarships

We are grateful for the generosity and cheerful service of our parish members and Christians throughout the Greater-Dayton area which make this ministry possible. If you would like to be involved, or for more information about the Refugee Ministry of Christ the King Anglican Church, please contact Barbara Harvey. (bharvey@ckrec.org )