Year-End Appeal December 2021
Dear Friend and Supporter,
Imagine having to leave your home because of war, the threat of gangs or political or economic crises that have devastated your country. Rather than living your life as planned, you are forced to travel long distances, often leaving family behind to come to a strange country where you hope to start a new life. As a result of the COVID virus, the door to your former country slams shut. Even if you wanted to, you could not return. Now you must rapidly find a place to live, to work, and learn the language you will need to be accepted or even understood.
All of this while your new country is facing a global pandemic and its own economic and social crises. There is a fear in your new country of the stranger, the immigrant, the ‘other”.
Where do you turn?
Welcoming the Stranger was founded over 21 years ago based on a simple idea: that it is morally right to offer compassionate and caring assistance to immigrants and refugees in need.
We are writing to you with a grateful heart to thank you for your support throughout the year. During this season of celebration, gratitude, and appreciation, would you again consider making a gift to help our immigrants and refugees?
2021 has been especially challenging and rewarding for us. When other nonprofits stopped offering classes due to the COVID pandemic, we remained “open for business”. We designed a virtual educational model and continued to provide free, volunteer-led classes.
This year we served over 500 students with English as a second language classes, computer skills classes, and citizenship preparation classes. This is a 132% increase in unduplicated students from the previous year’s virtual classes.
Nine students became citizens this year. One of them was our Acting Director. She now has the opportunity to share her success with other students, while working with our Board, volunteers, and staff to make our programs more effective, more available, and more sustainable long-term.
Your gift is a seed that will grow. It is an investment in improving the futures of our students, their families, and their communities.
When asked to tell us about their student success stories, our volunteer teachers inevitably speak of their own gratitude for being able to work with motivated, courageous, and determined adults.
One teacher said that she could not tell the story of just one student, because she hears a theme running throughout each student's story. Here she explains:
As I listened to each student read their stories, I felt extremely proud. I told them about a word that Americans like to use to describe themselves: grit - having courage, resolve, and strength of character. I see this trait in each of them, to a great degree, and I know that they will each achieve their goals. I feel humbled to try to help them in some small way as they work toward those goals and I am proud to know them.
In just a few weeks, we will all be busy with the end of year activities that include getting together with family and friends, sharing memories, preparing our homes for holiday celebrations, gifting, and finishing the tasks of 2021.
It is so important that Welcoming the Stranger begins 2022 with the resources that it needs. If your life has been enriched by the kindness of others, might you be able to share your blessings with us?
Thank you for all your generosity, past and present. We promise to be good stewards of your gift.
Wishing you and your family a very wonderful holiday season.
Here’s how you can make a donation
BY CHECK:
Payable to Welcoming the Stranger
Mail to: WTS Year-End Appeal
P.O. Box 1156, Langhorne, PA 19047
BY CREDIT CARD
Click the donate button below