“Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget….” BCP P827 Prayers for the Poor and the Neglected

Thanks to your financial gifts to Palmer’s Refugee Resettlement Restricted Account, the Outreach Committee has remembered refugees and responded to requests for support for them from two local refugee support ministries, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston’s Refugee Program (our long-standing partner and Episcopal Migration Ministries’ local affiliate) and Amaanah Refugee Services. Checks totaling $1250 ($1200 to Interfaith Ministries and $250 to Amaanah) have been sent to their Emergency Funds to meet needs caused by the current pandemic.

At this time, refugees living in our community are among the most vulnerable in our city -- those who work hourly jobs and are unable to work from home. As businesses closed or employers reduced hours, those workers are no longer paid and many are not eligible for unemployment benefits. While previously working for minimum wage and living paycheck-to-paycheck, they were working to achieve self-sufficiency and have been devastated by these losses.

Fortunately, agencies serving the poor, the unemployed, and refugees in Houston are working to assist them with emergency assistance to help them weather this crisis by providing funds for rent, food, internet access for children to continue their schooling, and childcare for those parents able to work. These measures not only ease their physical needs, but also assist refugee families in remaining on the road to their financial freedom.

We are grateful for your support, which enables us to remember refugees as part of our long-standing and ongoing ministry, and never more so than during this crisis. For more information, contact me or go to www.imgh.org or www.amaanahserrvices.org.