GCAR Members Help Refugees

On May 19, members of the Community Relations Committee and GCAR members at large, volunteered at a donation center in Latham, run by the Muslim Soup Kitchen Project.  The Muslim Soup Kitchen Project was started at RPI in 2003 by a group of college students who set out to do good by sharing simple acts of kindness.  The non-profit includes volunteers of all ages and works to help people, either by volunteering in soup kitchens, delivering food to people, or visiting the sick.  Monthly soup kitchens are held at shelters in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy. They also have bi-monthly drives for non-perishable items, school supplies, clothing, and toiletries to serve the needs of local communities. Their motto is “Creating Unity by Serving Humanity.”

GCAR members sorted household items, clothing, furniture, and baby items that have been donated to help refugees rebuild their lives here in the Capital Region. The donation center is open for refugees in need, especially helping those who have just come to the states recently. The refugees will come to the donation center and shop for whatever they need, free of charge.

There is a need for housing for many of these families and day-to-day items to transition into their new environment.  Refugees arrive at short notice, sometimes only two to four days leaving host families and organizers scrambling to arrange housing, clothing, food, baby items, and other necessities.

Many thanks to Joe Krongold, Judy Kaiser, Diane Sluus, Chair, Karen Cahill, Brenda Larkin, Elaine Freedman, Jonie Civill, and Robin Antonelli (not pictured) for volunteering their time to help out another worthy cause in the Capital Region.