In an effort to offer support to Catholic Charities Maine’s Refugee and Immigration Services, All Saints Parish has launched a yearlong service project to provide “Welcome Kits” to refugees arriving in Maine through the program.

Pre-Kindergarteners through fifth graders who participate in faith formation classes in the parish (including St. Mary Church, Bath; Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Boothbay Harbor; St. Charles Borromeo Church, Brunswick; St. John the Baptist Church, Brunswick; St. Katharine Drexel Church, Harpswell; St. Patrick Church, Newcastle; St. Ambrose Church, Richmond) are collecting items to create the kits, which will include cleaning supplies and boxes of household staples for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

“The refugees come with nothing,” said Tarlan Ahmadov, the director of Refugee and Immigration Services. “Many have been living in camps for years and can never go home. They come with hope for a fresh start and are so appreciative of the kindness shown by others.”

“Inspired by the scripture passage, ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me,’ we hope to instill God’s call for us to help those less fortunate in the children participating,” said Amy Ford, director of faith formation at the parish. “We want the children to see that small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life and in our community as a whole.”

The “Welcome Kits” program is a Mustard Seed project for the parish. Mustard Seed projects are designed by Catholic Charities Maine’s Parish Social Ministry program and aim to demonstrate that great things can come from humble beginnings.

“We believe that even small steps, made by a few, can have a lasting impact in our communities,” said Michael Smith, the manager of Catholic Charities Maine’s Parish Social Ministry program.

Catholic Charities Maine helped more than 350 refugees last year, assisting the refugees in finding housing, employment, and other services.

The “Welcome Kits” project will run through the spring of 2015 when the children will present the collected items to representatives from both Refugee and Immigration Services and the refugee community. 

For more information, contact Kathy Mockler at Catholic Charities Maine by calling 207-781-8550.