Shahadas

Welcome Shehadas to the USA !

8/19/16:

The Shahadas arrived in March of 2016 from Damascus, Syria. Father & Mother, Batool (F16), Sawsan (F9) Mustafa (M18)

Mahamad (M21). The children attended school for the remainder of the year and enrolled in english classes for the summer. Everyone attends English classes at the Branch every Friday night. These classes are taught by Sister Badger and the missionaries. President McGreevy is assigned as their mentor. The branch has been very generous and has helped their relocation experience be much more pleasant. The Shahadas are wonderful, kind, generous and humble people. They have had church members at their home for dinner, attended our Albany 2nd branch annual picnic at Thacher Park and contributed to our meal and joined in our games. Mahamad the oldest son has been working for Walmart and the father continues to seek employment. It is my understanding he is an experienced mason and had a career in the building industry in Damascus. We look forward to their continued success and getting to know them better. We are now preparing to help another family of ten arriving 8/26/16.

Cleaning and Setting up the apartment on Park Avenue....

How Does it Work:

Protocol is that a week or so after their arrival, all members of a new refugee family each need to get a physical, blood work and other tests. Each person goes three different times, twice to Rensselaer St. Peter's and once to Albany St. Peter's. USCRI usually sets up appointments two at a time. If possible we provide rides to almost all these appointments. USCRI helps them register for school, get food stamps, medicaid, and start job searches. They also provide them with an apartment and rent for a limited period of time. We clean & furnish the apartment and purchase food for two weeks or so. Lists are provided by USCRI of what is needed. A mentor is assigned to the family to help with navigating their new home, acclimating to our customs and to communicate needs. A background check is required to be a mentor or a driver. Donations of Items are collected by us, all donations are received at the Cultural Hall of Albany 2nd Branch before distribution. Please send an email to pmcgre@gmail.com of items you intend to donate.