Afghanistan, Two Years Later: The Need for Permanent Welcome

Dear Friend,

It’s been two years since the Afghan government officially fell to Taliban rule. Since then, over 100,000 Afghans were invited to live in the United States and with the help of organizations like Inspiritus, dedicated community partners, and welcoming neighbors like you, they’re moving forward and successfully building new lives in their new country and new local community.

However, of those 100,000 individuals, the majority are here with a temporary form of immigration status known as Humanitarian Parole that is valid for two years at a time. Without legal permanent residency, Afghan parolees face the risk of returning to the same persecution from which they fled. They have found safety, stability, and promise in the U.S. and deserve the opportunity to continue moving forward with the new lives they've started to build.

Last month, Congress reintroduced its newest iteration of the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) with bipartisan versions of the legislation in both the House and Senate chambers, respectively. Originally introduced last year, the AAA is legislation that if passed, would create a pathway to permanent residency for Afghans who were granted Humanitarian Parole.

Now, more than ever, we urge our Members of Congress to provide our Afghan Allies with the appropriate protections they need to remain free from persecution and to pursue the American Dream they’ve already started building.

Please join us in advocating for this important bill and ask your Members of Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. You can learn more about the bill here and confirm who represents you in Congress here along with the phone numbers for each of your two U.S. Senators and House Rep. When calling on behalf of those we accompany, you may refer to the script below.

Sample Script:

• Hello Representative/Senator [Insert name] My name is [Insert your name] and I am a constituent and resident of [insert city], [insert state]. I am calling to ask that you support the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill that would allow Afghans with Humanitarian Parole visas to apply for a green card and become a permanent resident. My community is one of thousands that welcomed Afghans seeking safety and I believe it is in our best interest as a country and in everyone’s individual best interest that they be given the option to permanently reside in the United States. With a temporary status, these individuals are subjected to constant uncertainty about whether they will have to return to Afghanistan, which should not be an option. I ask that the [Representative/Senator] support our Afghan allies who stood by us by supporting the Afghan Adjustment Act. Thank you.

With help of supporters like you, we have made a tremendous impact in the lives of the Afghan allies we have been fortunate to serve these past few years. If you would like to learn more about some of the incredible individuals we have had the privilege to accompany, click on their images below!

You can also find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Afghan Refugees, Two Years Later: From Surviving to Thriving

Dear Friend,

Yesterday, on social media, we introduced you to some of the Afghan refugees we at Inspiritus have had the great pleasure of serving since welcoming them to the United States, over the last two years. Some of these individuals served as allies alongside U.S. military members, while others were resettled through the traditional U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The individuals who have come through these immigration pathways are fortunate in that they have no-to-few barriers to U.S. legal permanent residency, enhancing the prospect of a more stable and certain future.

However, of those roughly 76,000 Afghans who were evacuated as part of the Operation Allies Welcome rescue mission, the majority were admitted with Humanitarian Parole, allowing them to temporarily enter the United States, “due to an emergency and urgent humanitarian reason.” While their parole was recently extended for another two years, their long-term futures remain uncertain until Congress passes the Afghan Adjustment Act, which will make them eligible to apply for a green card and continue building the lives they started creating for themselves in the U.S.

Nevertheless, for parolees like Suraiya, this sense of uncertainty has been no hindrance toward pursuing their future goals. Evacuated in late August 2021, Suraiya and her family were welcomed by Inspiritus in Atlanta and she is now working full-time at a local nonprofit health clinic while she takes steps toward enrolling in aviation school. Her goal? To be the first Afghan woman to fly a plane for Delta.

Suraiya is just one of many incredible individuals we have served in the past two years who have already made incredible gains for themselves and contributions to their local communities. You can learn more about Suraiya and other Afghan newcomers we’ve welcomed across our programming by clicking on their pictures below.

Make sure to follow us on social media this week as we continue to highlight the impactful stories of those we have the privilege to accompany. You can find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely, 

John R. Moeller Jr.
President & CEO
Inspiritus

Afghan Refugees, Two Years Later. Where Are They Now?

Dear Friend,

Tomorrow, August 15, will mark two years since the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan. For the thousands of Afghans evacuated to the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome, and the approximate 2.6 million Afghan refugees around the world, this is a day of sorrow, conjuring painful memories of people, places, and a way of life they were forced to leave behind.

Despite these impossible hardships, we at Inspiritus have seen amazing strides from the Afghans we have welcomed, witnessing the creation of new memories with new friends in a new place, during a period of life that, for them, is equally novel and challenging. Amidst unfathomable loss and change, these individuals have demonstrated incredible courage and acceptance, approaching life in the U.S. as one of opportunity where they can once again find happiness, prosperity, and peace.

Example...Nargis Naseri, a young woman who came to Atlanta by herself with no local contacts and has now found purpose and a connection to her local community through her job at another refugee-serving nonprofit organization. There’s also Amin, an IT professional with young children, his former professional ties to the US government would ultimately pose a threat to his family, prompting them to leave Afghanistan. Less than two years after being resettled in Birmingham, he’s found a great job in his field and spends some of his free time doing volunteer IT work with a local nonprofit.

Nargis’ and Amin’s stories exemplify a trend we know to be true: When you invest in refugees, they’ll invest right back in the communities that welcomed them ten-fold.

As we reflect on the events that unfolded two years ago, we are also reflecting on the resilience of our new Afghan neighbors like Nargis and Amin, and the many successes they have achieved in such a short time.

Beginning tomorrow and for the rest of the week, we will be uplifting the stories of nearly a dozen Afghan refugees we have welcomed, who will share their own reflections on where they have been and where they are now, two years later.

We will also be sharing more information about the Afghan Adjustment Act, a piece of legislation that if passed by Congress, would ensure that Afghan evacuees would not be subject to return to Afghanistan and can apply for legal permanent residency in the U.S.

With help of supporters like you, we have made a tremendous impact in the lives of the Afghan allies we have been fortunate to serve these past few years. We can’t wait to share their impactful stories with you throughout the week!

You will be able to find these stories on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn platforms.

Sincerely, 

John R. Moeller Jr.
President & CEO
Inspiritus

Title 42 Immigration Policy & Team Libertad

Dear Friend, 

A little more than a month has passed since the expiration of Title 42, the pandemic-era public health measure that was issued more than 2.8 million times to expel migrants from claiming asylum at the U.S. southern border since its implementation in March 2020. In its place, our current Administration has introduced new federal policies that do little to protect vulnerable individuals who are seeking asylum and do even less in the way of offering sustainable, long-term solutions to help repair our nation’s broken immigration system.  

This new rule instituted on May 11 severely restricts the ability of migrants to effectively claim asylum at the U.S. border unless they can demonstrate that they were denied asylum in another country. Additionally, this rule mandates that asylum applicants first make an appointment through a phone app, CBP One, now infamous for its frequent glitches and deficiencies in its facial recognition technology, which has resulted in discriminatory outcomes for hopeful asylum seekers. And while we commend the Administration for expanding legal pathways for individuals seeking temporary safety such as the 2-year Humanitarian Parole program for Afghans, Ukrainians, Venezuelans, and others, Congress will need to take action to ensure these individuals can access a green card and continue investing in themselves and this country since starting a new life in the United States. 

While the timeline around Congressional action remains uncertain, it is absolutely certain that Inspiritus, along with members of our local communities, will continue to do the work on the ground to support individuals escaping violence and persecution along every step of their journey to safety and stability.  

One of our newly added programs, Team Libertad, is an exemplary model for how local communities are welcoming asylum seekers in Atlanta. Relying almost entirely on volunteers, Team Libertad depends on compassionate individuals to help serve the 50-100 travelers it greets at the airport on a weekly basis who are leaving the state to reunite with loved ones and wait their day in asylum court.

These travelers are individuals seeking asylum who were recently released from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport with many emotions and few resources, Team Libertad steps in to welcome them to Atlanta and to help meet any immediate or expressed need such as access to food, a cell phone, or assistance getting to their gate. While the road to asylum approval is long and arduous, these small acts of kindness make a big difference in the lives of the travelers we encounter.  

As we look toward World Refugee Day next week, we invite you to join us in the work we are doing on the ground every day to make our communities a more welcoming place for those in need of humanitarian protection. Here are three things you can do:

• Volunteer with Team Libertad in Atlanta: No matter your availability, there are opportunities for you to be a welcomer to weary travelers morning, afternoon, or night. Click here to sign up, or contact Program Coordinator Andrea Espinoza for more information at andrea.espinoza@weinspirit.org  

• Donate to Team Libertad: Your donations will help cover the costs of meals, backpacks, hygiene items, and other resources necessary to support our work. Click here to donate and please mark “Refugee Services: Team Libertad” as the recipient of your donation.  

• Attend a World Refugee Day Celebration: No matter where you are located, Inspiritus is hosting events at all four of our resettlement sites. On June 20th, we will be celebrating in Nashville, Birmingham, and Savannah, while June 25th will mark our 10th annual Clarkston celebration. Check out the graphics below for more details on where and when your local celebration will take place.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering the families and individuals we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving.

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services
Inspiritus

Help Send A Refugee Child To Summer Camp

Dear Friend,

Last week, we introduced you to some of the refugee children we at Inspiritus have the great pleasure of serving. This particular group of children endured an arduous journey on their path to safety, alone and unaccompanied before arriving to the United States with the goal of being reunited with their families or a family friend here in Georgia. With their migration journey at an end, they begin their journey of adjusting to life in a new country and new community. Inspiritus is there to guide them on this journey, providing support in areas of English language acquisition, academic enrichment, and social-emotional wellness that can help these children heal from the often-traumatic experiences they encountered since leaving home. 

Our friends at Lutheranch, a Christian summer camp and conference center, have joined us in our mission to help these children on their path from surviving to thriving, and have graciously offered to host 10 of these children at camp this summer where they can continue their journey of growth and healing in a safe space. Your help can make it possible for a child to experience healing & growth at Lutheranch camp this summer! 

How exactly does summer camp make a profound difference in the life of a refugee child? Family Reunification Coordinator Kari Ellers witnessed the powerful impact that camp had on two of our girls who attended last summer. Here’s what she says:

“Camp means the possibility for many children to be children in a world where so often, because of their life circumstances, they quickly learn how to act and live beyond their years. Camp provides children with an opportunity to connect with nature and each other, to explore and have fun, to learn experientially without the pressure of grades and testing. Camp is a sacred healing space, planting seeds of love and self-care that continue to blossom for years to come. Camp is about the personal breakthroughs, the ‘aha’ moments, and it is those moments that even during our darkest of times, help to carry us forward.” 

With your support, you can similarly help be a part of our work in helping to carry these children forward on their path from surviving to thriving. 

This week, we’d like you to meet Marcos, Sophia, and Diego- three of the ten hopeful campers eager to spend a week at Lutheranch this summer. 

Meet Marcos:

At 16-years-old, Marcos already has a clear vision for what kind of person he wants to become. “I want to be a person with values- a positive person who does good things like helping my family, working for my country, having my own house, car, and business.”

An avid fan of true crime television, Marcos’ plan for pursuing his own version of the American dream involves a college degree in Criminology and a career in law enforcement.

Marcos is described by his Inspiritus case workers as, “sweet, curious, and just lovely”, and they talk about how rewarding it has been to see Marcos become more open and outgoing with people over time.

While at Lutheranch this summer, he is most excited about the idea of playing soccer with other campers and spending time in nature among the mountains and a river or lake.

Meet Sophia & Diego: 

Eleven-year-old *Sophia has a huge heart for a little girl. Described as “generous and sweet” by her Inspiritus case workers, she is the type of child who is always thinking about others. Upon realizing that Inspiritus accepts donations to families in need, she took it upon herself to bring in an old dress she no longer wears so another child could enjoy wearing it as much as she did.

During snack time at her after school program, she is the one who always makes sure the other kids have enough to eat and will offer some of her snacks to share with her friends. She loves to color and while at camp this summer, is most looking forward to painting outdoors and feeding the animals.

In classic “younger sibling” fashion, her little brother, *Diego, wants to be included in whatever his big sister does, including the opportunity to attend Lutheranch. Seven-year-old Diego is super excited to make new friends this summer. His dream is to travel the world and (unsurprisingly) like big sister, Sophia, he wants to be a police officer when he grows up.

If you would like to empower children like Marcos, Sophia, and Diego on their path from surviving to thriving, please consider donating to our "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund.

While the cost of each camp varies slightly by age range and the activities it includes, the majority of our children are registered for horse camp, which costs $725.00/week. All donations allocated to this fund will be used to send children to Lutheranch this summer!

You can make a monetary donation by clicking the button below. After selecting the "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund, please enter "Lutheranch Donation" in the comment box.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering those we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving!

With Gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

Help Send 10 Refugee Children To Summer Camp

Dear Friend,

The end of another school year is upon us. For many fortunate children, summer is a special time when they pack a bag and head away to summer camp. More than just s’mores and a break from homework, camp can be a transformative place where children experience the therapeutic power of the great outdoors, explore new interests, and make lasting friendships.

Our friends at Lutheranch care about the children we at Inspiritus have the privilege of serving, and have offered to provide a unique opportunity for a special group of children cared for by Inspiritus to attend a Lutheranch camp experience where they can grow and heal in a safe space. Your help can make it possible for a child to experience healing & growth and Lutheranch camp this summer!

The group of children invited to this Lutheranch experience have come to the United States unaccompanied, alone and on an often traumatic journey. Inspiritus staff have worked with them to help them adjust to their new lives in Georgia where they have been reunited with family or a family friend, and we continue to work with their households to help ensure the children have access to the support and care they need.

Our partnership with Lutheranch, a Christian camp and conference center located in Tallapoosa, Georgia has become one of these resources. Last year, Lutheranch graciously helped provide funding for sisters *Lucia and Mari to attend a week of summer camp. Recognizing the positive impact camp had when picking them up last year, Family Reunification Coordinator Kari Ellers notes how the girls came back more confident, willing to take risks and try new things, adding, “Camp planted a seed that allowed them to grow…to be reminded of their goodness and ability to dream beyond their current situation.”  

At Inspiritus, we believe every child should have these opportunities to grow and dream and with your generous support, can send 10 children to Lutheranch this summer!

Over the next three weeks, we’ll be introducing you to some of these hopeful new campers so you can get to know them and learn more about how a week at summer camp can make all the difference as we walk with them on their path from surviving to thriving.

Meet Beatriz & Paola:

Sisters *Beatriz and Paula (14 and 17 respectively) are known for their sweet disposition and compassion toward others. Originally from Mexico, the girls have found a new home and community in Georgia with their mother, who has found work on a local farm since arriving to the United States. The horses, chickens, and other livestock on this farm have become a source of joy and comfort for Beatriz and Paula, and as a result, they have cultivated a shared love of animals and intellectual interest in the natural world.

When asked about what they hope to do while at camp, both girls gleamed at the opportunity to ride horses and “learn even more about animals”- a reference to the long list of fun animal facts they’ve absorbed in recent months. While Beatriz is additionally excited to spend time exploring the outdoors and go swimming, Paola is looking forward to spending her time outdoors under a shady tree with a good book.

Although both girls are a little shy by nature, they see camp as an opportunity to spend time with kids their age and make new friends using their English language skills they’ve been working hard to develop this academic school year.

Beyond desiring a week at camp, Beatriz dreams of serving in the United States military and Paola, the National Guard. Having the opportunity to practice English conversation and leadership /teamwork skills in a non-threatening environment at camp will be foundational steppingstones for their vocational journey ahead.

If you would like to empower children like Beatriz and Paula on their path from surviving to thriving, please consider donating to our "Refugee Services: After School & Summer Camp" fund. All donations allocated to this fund will be used to send children to Lutheranch this summer! You can make a monetary donation by clicking the button below.

Thank you for your continued support in empowering those we accompany on their journey from surviving to thriving!

With Gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

Mississippi Tornado Response Update

Dear Friend,

It's been nearly two weeks since powerful storms swept through Mississippi and Alabama on the evening of March 24th, producing 20 tornadoes and tragically taking the lives of over two dozen people. The storm caused catastrophic damages to hundreds of homes and buildings, leaving thousands of residents without power and in need of extensive home repairs. Unfortunately, many of the communities impacted by the tornados lack the economic resources and infrastructure needed to recover on their own. It will continue to take the efforts of local and national Response Teams and supporters like you to help affected residents rebuild their lives.

Since deployment, Inspiritus has been working in coordination with emergency teams, local officials, and our partners to help impacted communities on their road to recovery. Inspiritus-trained volunteers are currently helping survivors in Wren, Mississippi (15-minutes west of Amory), by providing free Debris Removal, Roof Tarping, and Chainsaw services for the most vulnerable homeowners.

Last Saturday, Inspiritus helped to coordinate and provide disaster response safety training to 160 community volunteers, to ensure volunteers can safely support the needs of Survivors in the area. In total, our teams provided in-depth safety briefings and has coordinated the clean-up and debris removal efforts of 376 volunteers, serving over 1240 hours in Wren, MS.

It's critical for our teams to take extra care of not just a Survivor's home, but the person impacted. Many of them are faced with horrific memories and the surmounting feeling of loss and grief after such a traumatic event. Several Inspiritus volunteers are trained to provide spiritual, emotional and social support to help Survivors navigate the difficult road ahead of them. Barbara Yates, a seasoned Inspiritus Disaster Relief Volunteer, recalls the terrifying experience of one of the families we are assisting:

"One of the families we are helping was gathered together in their home when thestorm struck. It was a father and mother, and two children (a teenage boy and his younger sister). The teenager, wrapped himself around his sister, while the entire home was picked up and thrown 100 yards and eventually smashed into a line of trees. Miraculously, everyone lived...but, their home is a total loss. Despite the fact that they could walk away, they are forever changed."

- Barbara Yates, Inspiritus Volunteer

WHAT WE ARE DOING:

• Providing free Chainsaw, Roof Tarping, and Debris Removal services to communities, as needed.

• Providing safety briefings to Spontaneous Volunteers, as needed.

• Providing free Home Needs Assessments.

• Supporting individuals and families impacted by the disaster.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT:

Inspiritus is working to build local disaster response capacities, while also providing direct services to survivors, including:

• Capacity Building: Inspiritus is partnering with local emergency and city/county officials to build local disaster response capacity, as needed.

• Direct Services: Inspiritus staff and volunteers are providing home needs assessments and debris removal services, along with emotional care to bring safety and peace of mind to homeowners requesting assistance. We are directly providing home assessments and debris removal (including chainsawing) to homes and public spaces.

• Spiritual & Emotional Care: Disasters can affect a Survivor's physical and emotional well-being. They disrupt everyday life by displacing individuals and families, destroying homes, and splintering communities. Inspiritus' volunteer teams and partner organizations are providing emotional care, spiritual guidance and critical resources to help impacted individuals recover stronger.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Thank you for helping impacted communities find strength and resiliency during this difficult time. We will continue to keep you updated as the work progresses. In the meantime, you can learn more about Inspiritus' Disaster Relief efforts and the ways you can get involved by clicking the button below.

Please join us in prayer for those impacted by this tragic disaster.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Team Libertad Joins Inspiritus

Dear Friend,

Inspiritus is proud to announce the addition of Team Libertad to our current suite of programs aimed at serving Georgia’s Refugee and Immigrant communities. Team Libertad was founded in May 2022 with the purpose of providing resources and assistance to recently detained asylum seekers who are leaving Georgia to reunite with loved ones and wait their day in asylum court.

Comprised of about 100 active volunteers, Team Libertad depends on compassionate individuals from welcoming communities to serve the 50-100 travelers it greets at the airport on a weekly basis. These travelers are individuals seeking asylum who were recently released from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Arriving to Hartsfield Jackson with many emotions and few resources, Team Libertad steps in to welcome them to Atlanta and to help meet any immediate or expressed need such as:

• Access to language interpretation

• Use of cell phones to contact loved ones

• Assistance obtaining tickets and boarding passes

• Guidance through security screening and locating departure gates

• Distribution of travel essentials such as personal hygiene items, food, weather-appropriate clothing, and backpacks

Inspiritus aims to help the individuals we serve to discover their inner strength and resilience. In acting as a resourceful and comforting presence to vulnerable asylum seekers who endured long periods of isolation and hardship, Team Libertad walks alongside these individuals as they find their inner strength to navigate the last step on their long journey to safety. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Inspiritus Refugee and Immigrant Services team!

Want to help welcome asylum seekers at the airport with Team Libertad? Sign up for a volunteer shift at bit.ly/airport-signup.

For questions or more information, contact Andrea Espinoza, Team Libertad Program Coordinator, at andrea.espinoza@weinspirit.org.

Sincerely,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services

Disaster Team Deploys to Mississippi

Dear Friend,

On the evening of March 24, a powerful tornado cut a devastating path of at least 170 miles across Mississippi and Alabama. Tragically, these communities lost over two dozen lives as the tornado obliterated homes and buildings in its wake. It traveled through Amory, Mississippi, a small town of 7,316 residents situated in the northeastern corner of Mississippi, near the Alabama border. Few buildings remained unscathed, with many requiring extensive repairs.

The 70 mph tornado left downed power lines, uprooted trees, and pieces of roofing and siding throughout the streets of Amory. The town has been operating without clean drinking water as the city’s water treatment plant was directly hit. The people who have lived in the small community their whole lives say they've never seen anything quite like the destruction they're facing now.

Thankfully, there were no fatalities within the Amory town limits, however many residents are displaced, managing numerous injuries, and working to salvage their homes and personal items. According to Police Chief Nicholaus Weaver, “All of the residential buildings in the town have been searched and found clear. Now, it’s about the cleanup. It’s going to be a long process.”

WHAT WE ARE DOING:

Project Tasks & Activities:

Inspiritus volunteer teams will help with debris removal & chainsawing wherever needed most in Amory, with priority on assisting those who are the most vulnerable, families with children, seniors, veterans, and especially low-income households. 

We are also deploying our WOW Cart (from Waterstep) to provide purified water to residents & responders, as needed. 

Teams will conduct rapid home needs assessments, before providing free clean-up, debris removal, and chainsaw services. Our teams will also be prepared to help deploy spontaneous volunteers to assist with home debris removal jobs, as needed.

W

Projected Outcomes:

• Providing chainsaw & debris removal services to communities as needed/available

• Ensuring Access to Inspiritus’ WOW Cart/Water Purification system

• Providing Free Home Needs Assessments

• Support Individuals Impacted by the Disaster

Community Benefit:

Inspiritus is working to build local disaster response capacities, while also providing direct services to survivors.

• Capacity Building: Inspiritus is partnering with local emergency and city/county officials to build local disaster response capacity, as needed.

• Direct Services: Inspiritus staff and volunteers are providing home needs assessments and debris removal services, along with emotional care to bring safety and peace of mind to homeowners requesting assistance. We are directly providing home assessments and debris removal (including chainsawing) to homes and public spaces. We anticipate our services will be able to help 100+ individuals within 2 weeks from the time we responded.

• Spiritual & Emotional Care: Volunteers will be accompanying survivors as they navigate one of the most difficult tragedies and challenges of their lives. In this accompaniment, we walk alongside each individual we come in contact with, helping them to tap into the resilience within themselves. Prayer and spiritual encouragement is often greatly appreciated by many survivors and Inspiritus volunteers often provide this comforting and empowering form of care, when it is welcomed. Hope and hugs are often powerfully strengthening for survivors during their darkest hours.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

As things develop, we will keep you updated on the needs for this Response operation. In the meantime, you can learn more about Inspiritus' Disaster Relief efforts and the ways you can get involved by clicking the button below.

Please join us in prayer for those impacted by this tragic disaster.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

CALL TO ACTION: Asylum Seekers Need Your Help

Dear Friend,

Inspiritus is grateful for advocates like you who help us accompany and speak up on behalf of our most vulnerable neighbors who are seeking refugee and/or asylum in the United States. If you are interested in advocating for asylum seekers, please prayerfully consider this action alert and call to action:

On February 23, the agency for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a set of new rules pertaining to the asylum process for vulnerable immigrants seeking to enter the U.S. from the Southern border. Current law under the Immigration and Nationality Act explicitly permits any individual with a well-founded fear of persecution to seek asylum from within the U.S. or at a port of entry. This newly proposed rule, entitled “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways”, would automatically disqualify cases from individuals who seek asylum directly at the border.

If this rule is enacted, it will require that individuals first apply for asylum in a nearby country, and then apply for asylum in the U.S. if their case in this initial country was formally denied.

The process is already very difficult or near impossible for some asylum seekers to navigate on their own. For example, the only way individuals can formally apply for asylum is the CBP One app, the platform through which applicants receive confirmation of appointments and additional correspondence. While access to a smart phone or accessible WiFi is an obvious barrier, the app has reportedly experienced widespread technical glitches and is available in only English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

While there are a few exceptions to the proposed rule (such as for unaccompanied minors or individuals with exceptionally grave medical needs), these changes would essentially deny tens of thousands of asylum seekers due process when attempting to exercise their legal right to seek safety. It also will put them back in harm’s way. If passed, these changes would take effect on May 11 and would remain in place for the next two years.

The administration is reversing course on its previous commitment to restoring asylum and it is imperative that we speak out. You can help advocate against these proposed changes by submitting a public comment online by March 27th. Click here to submit your comment.

You can find a template below to use as a guideline.

Hello, my name is [insert name] and I am writing from [insert hometown and state] to oppose the newly proposed changes to asylum policy outlined in “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways.” If implemented, these new changes would severely undermine the ability of vulnerable peoples to seek asylum according to U.S. and international law. The additional barriers these regulations would impose are arbitrary and will only prolong the dangerous circumstances from which migrants are seeking to escape. It is imperative that the U.S. uphold its role as beacon of safety and opportunity for immigrants facing persecution in their home countries and as such, it is critical that we do not close pathways for seeking asylum for the tens of thousands of vulnerable individuals and families for whom humanitarian parole or refugee resettlement is not an option. As a(n) [immigrant, person of faith, volunteer, staff of an immigrant-serving organization, etc.], I implore you to reconsider these proposed changes and find solutions that help restore asylum access, rather than dismantle it.

With gratitude,

Aimee Zangandou
Executive Director of Inspiritus Refugee & Immigrant Services

HungerWalkRun 2023 Was A Success!

Hello Friends,

What an amazing Hunger Walk Run we had this year! Even though it was a cold, somewhat rainy day, so many supporters showed up for Inspiritus, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and local food ministries/pantries.

If you did not get a chance to participate, or even if you did, there's still time to donate. You can still donate until March 31:

We had some very impressive totals:

• $43,135.59 in confirmed online donations

• 21 teams

• 247 registered walkers/runners

And, we had some amazing teams joining us this year.

A huge shout out goes to:

• Cross of Life Lutheran Church, Roswell, GA

• Epiphany Lutheran Church, Suwanee, GA

• Epiphany Lutheran Church, Conyers, GA 

• Faith and Grace Lutheran Church, Decatur, GA

• First United Lutheran Church, & Mt. Zion AME, Kennesaw, GA

• Grace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, GA

• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church/Daily Bread, Woodstock, GA 

• Hats for Hunger, Lilburn, GA

• Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Marietta, GA 

• Inspiritus Refugee Services team, Atlanta, GA

• Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta, GA

• Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta, GA

• Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Douglasville GA 

• Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Johns Creek, GA

• Rivercliff Lutheran Church, Sandy Springs, GA

• Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, Stone Mt., GA

• St. John Lutheran Church, Griffin, GA

• St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta, GA

• St Luke's Lutheran Church, Atlanta, GA

• St. Luke Lutheran Church, McDonough, GA 

• Trinity Lutheran Church, Lilburn, GA

Hunger Walk was a great success because of you. We won't know the final totals for at least a month since donations will continue to come in through the end of March. We will be in touch once the final numbers come in!

With Gratitude,

– Mary Armstrong-Reiner
Inspiritus Hunger Walk Coordinator
Call/text at: (309)-212-0888

One Year Later: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Dear Friend,

One year has passed since Russia invaded Ukrainian territory, marking the beginning of an ongoing conflict that has forced 6.3 million Ukrainians to flee their country. Since last April’s launch of the Uniting for Ukraine program, around 102,000 Ukrainian nationals were welcomed to the US with the help of highly committed individuals or groups who sign on as their legal sponsors, and organizations like Inspiritus, who provide support to newcomers and their sponsors as they navigate processes like school enrollment, securing employment, and other post-arrival essentials that set them up for success. To date, the Ukrainian Support Services Team at Inspiritus has connected with 384 Ukrainians across Georgia and Alabama.

Photo Credit: Time Magazine

Unlike refugees who come through the formal refugee admissions program, Ukrainians do not currently have a pathway for legal permanent residency, and are instead offered Humanitarian Parole, a form of temporary protected status that while grant authorization and other benefits, does not guarantee a permanent future in the US. Despite these uncertainties, the Ukrainians served by Inspiritus have chosen to turn hardship into opportunity and are on a path toward thriving in their new local communities.

Below are just a few stories of Inspiritus clients whose stories exemplify the resilience and optimism refugees bring with them to the United States.

Meet Sofia Castillo Kozhujovskaya (Atlanta, GA):

Sofia Castillo Kohzhujovskaya is no stranger to moving around. With one parent from Central America and another from Ukraine, she grew up in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico before eventually moving to Ukraine as an adolescent. While she grew up speaking Ukrainian and Spanish, she grew fluent in both English and Russian while in school. A high school senior when the war broke out, she would eventually earn her high school degree through an online English-language high school equivalency program and graduated while spending five months in a refugee camp in Poland.

Sofia arrived to Atlanta on July 27, 2022 with the help of her sponsor, a friend of her mother’s and former Marine. Sofia describes the Georgians she’s met as “very expressive” and “so polite,” emphasizing the strong level of support she felt from Kristian Dawson, Ukrainian Services Program Supervisor in Atlanta, someone with whom she says she could easily connect.

Very soon after arriving, Sofia kept moving forward with her original plans to pursue higher education and is currently a freshman Psychology major at Kennesaw State University where she commutes to and from Alpharetta a few days a week to take classes and tutor other students in Russian as a work-study job through the university.

Sofia is a self-described “gym rat” and enjoys watching the “Walking Dead” when she’s not working out. She hopes to visit Senoia, Georgia sometime soon, where much of the popular tv show was filmed. While she has professional dreams to become a psychological profiler, the price she currently pays for out-of-state tuition complicates the process. While traditional refugees and asylees are eligible for in-state tuition after one year of residency in Georgia, humanitarian parolees like Sofia are considered international students regardless of how many years they ultimately live in the state.

“As an 18-year-old, my income isn’t much. Having in-state tuition next year would help me work toward my goals in a very big way. Some people, especially older people, want to go back, but the life they had in Ukraine does not exist. This is my life now and I want to stay.”

Meet Olha Piatak (Savannah, GA):

To say that Olha Piatak is lucky is an understatement. The day that the war broke out on February 24, 2022, she and her friend, Diana, were on a train on a pre-planned trip to the mountains. As panic ensued back home in Kyiv, Olha and her friend were able to safely make it to the Ukrainian-Polish border where they waited for 24 hours with no food or water before being permitted to cross. After staying with a family in Warsaw for a week, Olha and Diana went on to stay with friends in Berlin, parts of Southern France, and Paris for the next eight months. 

Olha taking in the beauty of Downtown Savannah.

Diana’s mother, who had moved to Georgia three years ago, would go on with her husband to formally sponsor the girls through the Uniting for Ukraine program, sending them across the Atlantic to Baxley, GA, a small town about two hours West of Savannah.

In Savannah, Olha was connected to a member of the Inspiritus team, Olha Maney, who helped her get on her feet as a new US resident. “Olha is an amazing person,” she says. “We’re so happy that we met her because she really did care about us. Not only did she help us with preparing documents and so on, she was always asking how we were doing. It is so sweet to realize that people care because you’re new to this country and don’t have many friends or people around.”

Olha has since left Savannah after reconnecting (and falling in love) with a former classmate from Kyiv. After moving to Chicago where her now partner was living, they chose to follow the footsteps of many other young dreamers and moved out to Los Angeles where they are happily living and preparing to take their drivers’ license exam. While Olha used to be a graphic designer in Ukraine, she hopes to combine her business degree and love of baking to eventually start her own line of sugar-free baked goods. Finding a job at a bakery is the next step after getting her license and a car.

Olha’s message for US lawmakers? “Ukrainian people are super hard working and open for opportunities to start and live our life here. Can you imagine a situation where you started a life and you’re thinking about your future and the government is telling you to go back because parole is over? Please do not destroy our plans. We want the opportunity to naturalize.”

Meet Olena Vyshyvanyuk (Birmingham, AL):

Olena Vyshyvanyuk epitomizes what it means to be a servant leader. As soon as it became clear she and her family would be sponsored by an American family in Birmingham, she started to look for employment opportunities that would allow her to help fellow Ukrainians seeking refuge in Alabama.

After learning more about Inspiritus online, conversations with our Ukrainian Services Support team began overseas and continued in-person both as a client receiving services after arriving in November 2022, and eventually as a new staff member who was hired in January 2023 as the Ukrainian Services Case Manager for Alabama.

Olena and her family on Christmas Day in front of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Birmingham.

In little over three months since their arrival, Olena’s family has found a real home in Birmingham. Her husband, with whom Olena shared a fabric business back in Ukraine, is working in alterations currently and has plans to start up his own business again in the future. Her three daughters have quickly made new friends and spend their time after school engaged in various activities from dance, basketball, and art. Of Birmingham, Olena says, “I love the people here. People are really kind, sincere, and always trying to help with open hands. We love the schools here and the weather. Here, it’s not so cold!”

For Olena, helping other Ukrainians with similar experiences serves as an outlet for healing. Her ability to empathize with her clients, along with her fluency in Russian, Ukrainian, and English, similarly offers her clients a sense of trust and connection as they navigate challenges around finding their own housing, employment, etc.

“Inspiritus is doing a great job. We are making it easier for them and they really need help. I just hope we can help more people.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

With no imminent resolution to the conflict in sight, much remains uncertain, including the future of Ukrainians living in the US with humanitarian parole. Below are some ways you can take action to ensure these individuals can continue to live a life of safety and prosperity in the US.

• Call your members of Congress and tell them to support legislation that offers status adjustment for Ukrainians, Afghans, and other populations with Humanitarian Parole. Click here to find your US House Member and Senators.

• Sample Message: “My name is [Insert Name] and I am your constituent from [City, State]. [As a person of faith/a refugee/a veteran/community member], I am asking that you support legislation offers status adjustment for Ukrainians, Afghans, and other vulnerable populations we welcomed through the humanitarian parole program. Without the opportunity to become a legal permanent resident, groups that the US government helped evacuate or otherwise help escape conflict will face uncertainty and insecurity. Congress has historically passed similar bills for vulnerable evacuated populations, and this legislation is similarly needed now. I encourage you to revisit the advancement of an Afghan Adjustment Act and new legislation that can offer similar permanent protections for Ukrainians and others with humanitarian parole.

• Support US sponsorship of Ukrainian nationals and other vulnerable populations seeking safety. Uniting for Ukraine is still seeking US-based sponsors who can commit to providing temporary housing and assistance to Ukrainians willing to relocate to the United States. Ukrainian-Americans and Ukrainian or Russian speakers are especially encouraged to apply. Visit Welcome.US or contact Kristian Dawson, at Kristian.dawson@weinspirit.org for more information.

• Donate to help empower Ukrainians on their journey from surviving to thriving: www.weinspirit.org/donate

With gratitude,

The Refugee & Immigrant Services Team

Inspiritus

New Americans Celebration at the Georgia State Capitol

Dear friend,

We invite you to join Inspiritus, and our partners at the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA), on Tuesday, February 14, for the tenth annual New Americans Celebration at the Georgia State Capitol!

The New Americans Celebration is the annual day of education and outreach for refugees, immigrants and native-born allies. Every year we welcome hundreds of advocates to the Capitol to engage with legislators and promote policy reforms that help ensure immigrants, refugees, and all Georgians may prosper in our home state.

Registration for this event is now open! This event is free but guests are asked to please register in advance through Eventbrite by clicking here.

This year's event will kick off at the Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located at 48 Martin Luther King Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. Check in will begin at 7:30 AM and the program will start at 8:00AM. 

If you have any questions, please contact me at sarah.burke@weinspirit.org. Don't miss this chance to show your support for refugees this Valentine's Day!

With Gratitude,

Sarah Burke
Community Engagement Manager

AmeriCorps CEO Presents President’s Volunteer Service Award to Inspiritus Volunteer

Dear friend,

Yesterday, Inspiritus Disaster Relief Volunteer, Philip DeRitis, was awarded the Gold President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award by AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith. This award is in recognition of more than 650 hours of volunteer service Phil has given to his community through his work with Inspiritus.

Established in 2003, the President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes the important role of volunteers in America's strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities and inspires those around them to take action, too.

The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.

Below Video: Michael Hudak WINK News

Philip DeRitis is one of these individuals.

Phil served all 650+ hours in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. As a storm survivor himself, his motivation to help bring his fellow community members home was personal.

Phil was teaching at a local tennis club when it was forced to close after being destroyed by Hurricane Ian. He lost his home, car and job to the storm. Rather than leave the area, he chose to volunteer with Inspiritus to help others impacted by the devastation.

Phil has inspired so many people that he has been named lead volunteer, and provides training to other volunteers to effectively muck and gut, provide mold sanitation services and complete small home repairs. In addition to his on-the-ground support, he has assisted with administrative tasks and tool and inventory management.

Phil DeRitis receives President’s Volunteer Service Award. Click image above to watch now.

“Anyone who works with Philip walks away with a new skill and a profound sense of hope,” said AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith. “Not only has he become the go-to volunteer to solve problems, he also embodies the spirit of service communities like Fort Myers’ needs to move forward after disasters. On behalf of AmeriCorps, thank you for volunteering your time and showing that service is a uniting force.”

Even in the aftermath, Phil said his heart remained steadfast and strong as ever.

"It takes faith. To me, it's just about doing the right thing...and having general care and concern for your neighbors."

Inspiritus Disaster Relief teams remain on the ground in Fort Myers, FL empowering storm survivors on their road to recovery by providing free social & emotional support, debris removal, muck & gut, chainsaw, mold sanitation and heavy equipment services.

If you would like to volunteer and join Phil, and the rest of our team on the ground, click here.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution to support our relief efforts, visit www.weinspirit.org/donate

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Your Favorite Inspiritus Programs: 2022 Highlights

As we look back on 2022, this year tells a story of resilience, strength, and determination despite the storms of life that affect each of us and those we have the honor of serving. From the family arriving from a war-torn country with nothing but the clothes on their back who is given a warm home and welcome from Inspiritus staff and volunteers in Alabama, Georgia, or Tennessee, to the disabled senior veteran whose home has been restored after the tornado (or flood, or hurricane) hit both his home and his hope. On behalf of the 8,504 survivors we accompanied this year through life’s storms, thank you for your compassion and commitment to empowering each one on their path from Surviving to Thriving.

Moeen Amini, Interpreter for the U.S. Military in Afghanistan, was interviewed by Allied News. He reflected, “We really lost hope to live. We faced a lot of Taliban checkpoints. I cannot explain how hard it was facing those people. You know, seeing hundreds of people with guns and stopping us and asking us, ‘Who you are, where are you going? And why are you leaving the country? Are you people the U.S. military supporters, is that why you’re leaving the country?'"

Moeen and his family were resettled in Clarkston, Georgia. Upon arrival, however, no one was willing to hire him. Thanks to supporters like you who help us respond to the urgent needs of refugees, like the newly arriving families from Afghanistan, Moeen and hundreds of others have found housing, work, and schooling this year.

Inspiritus’ mission is to empower families to do more than survive…but to also thrive. In 2022, the Inspiritus Refugee and Immigrant Services team pivoted from resettlement of Afghan Allies to the ‘Long Welcome’— the extended period after a family is housed, when our teams help them pursue upskilling and securing career recertifications so they can earn enough income to fully support their families. We are also helping them to apply for permanent immigration status. Your donations make it possible for families like Moeen’s to thrive again.

Elizabeth Moore and her husband rushed to get their children to safety as 6 feet of water filled their home, making it uninhabitable. They applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and were rejected three times. On July 26, Inspiritus deployed a team to East Kentucky to provide the critical help needed after these flash floods. Inspiritus leaders helped homeowners, like Elizabeth, navigate FEMA, and volunteers worked endlessly to clean up the debris from flood ravaged homes.

Elizabeth Moore and her husband rushed to get their children to safety as 6 feet of water filled their home, making it uninhabitable. They applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and were rejected three times.

On July 26, Inspiritus deployed a team to East Kentucky to provide the critical help needed after these flash floods. Inspiritus leaders helped homeowners, like Elizabeth, navigate FEMA, and volunteers worked endlessly to clean up the debris from flood ravaged homes.This year, Inspiritus deployed Response teams to help give hope to thousands of survivors impacted by the Mayfield Tornado, East Kentucky Floods, and Hurricane Ian.

In addition, Inspiritus Recovery teams repaired 70+ homes in Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. When partners like you support our work on the ground, we can deploy teams faster to help the most vulnerable recover. Prayerfully consider donating or volunteering today with our disaster relief efforts.

We have come a long way as Inspiritus celebrates almost four years since we merged the organizations of Lutheran Services in Tennessee and Lutheran Services of Georgia. From the beginning, we have dreamed of ways to better meet the local community’s increasing needs from our site at the old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. We are excited to tell you that we are on the verge of that dream being realized.

In the coming months, you will hear more about Inspiritus’ Campus Redevelopment that will expand our reach with 8,000 square feet of program space including a flagship “client choice grocery market” food pantry, affordable housing for seniors, community enrichment spaces for Inspiritus empowerment programs, and other services. We will not be able to accomplish this redevelopment without your support. We hope you will consider making a pledge or monthly gift to support this campaign, and will let us know if you have any friends, family, organizations, or foundations who might want to learn more about how to partner with us in this effort.

Your gift will empower our neighbors with the supports they need to thrive, right where they are.

Inspiritus’ Foster Care and Disability & Health Services programs provide person- centered housing with compassionate and well-trained Foster Care Parents or Support Companions for adults and children with critical needs. The need is great! If you or someone you know might be interested in learning more about becoming a Foster Parent or Support Companion in your home, please contact us or visit our website: weinspirit.org.

Our Foster Care program specializes in serving infants, children, and teens with significant medical, developmental, mental, physical, and/or behavioral challenges. These children often face harsh odds, and need highly qualified, well-trained foster parents to meet their needs so they can begin to thrive. This year, the program has made it possible for 38 medically vulnerable youth in Georgia to receive the care and support they need.

Inspiritus’ Disability & Health Services accompanies adult individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year, Disability & Health Services empowered 82 adults in Georgia by ensuring they have the compassionate Support Companions and homes they need.

Your end-of-year gift will help empower more individuals and families on their journey from surviving to thriving.

We continue to need your support to keep our programs and services well-equipped to make a difference. Please consider making your end-of-year donation to Inspiritus. We are so grateful for supporters like you. We wish you safe and healthy holiday season!

Message from the CEO

Dear Friend,

I write to you to share reflections from my recent trip to the Long-Term Recovery Disaster Zones in both Waverly, Tennessee and Mayfield, Kentucky where Inspiritus teams are still actively helping survivors recover more than a year after the storms.

How is the recovery going? I love that question. It indicates that people realize that people and communities are still hurting following the devastating effects of a storm.

The Tennessean reported: The floods were trigged by up to 17 inches of rain falling in just one day. The rain shattered the state record for daily rainfall and sent rivers and creeks surging over their boundaries. According to local officials, a total of 20 people were killed during Middle Tennessee's severe storms and extreme flash floods.

It has been well over a year since the massive flood in Waverly brought a wall of water down Main Street that crashed into Diane’s cute little house. Her son was home that night when the trestle gave way sending a tidal wave hurtling through the town of Waverly, Tennessee, a quaint community one hour west of Nashville. Her son quickly ran upstairs with the dogs and cats and climbed out onto the roof of the house as rescue personnel, helicopters, and boats made their way to their street. They were preparing to rescue him when the young man saw their 87 year-old next-door neighbor through the window standing in his house in chest deep water. The young man on the roof pointed the rescuers to help the man in the house instead.

More than a year later, these two neighbors are still traumatized by the events of that night. Every time it rains, Diane finds herself glued to weather news, wondering, and worrying for her safety and that of her dogs. She wonders if she should leave and head for higher ground. Despite the house being ready for move-in, the next-door neighbor has been unable to return. She wonders if he also still hears the screams of the young mother in the house behind them crying out to anyone who could help, “Please save my baby! Please! Save my baby!!!”

During the Long-Term Recovery, which in many cases can take years, Inspiritus provides free construction management services to homeowners who cannot afford to repair their own home properly. Working with volunteers and skilled trades, Inspiritus helps the homeowner manage the construction project until completion, making sure that even the smallest of details, such as that every nail hole is filled, and the paint job is done to the satisfaction of the homeowner. Along the way, Inspiritus staff and volunteers also support the homeowner and their own healing process.

When I inquired this week, neighbors one street over from Diane said that they still aren’t doing well a year and a half after the flood. Margie and Gene still ponder nearly drowning that night. Gene, age 80, was trapped inside the house. Margie, age 68, attempted to go for help. She recounted the miracle of not drowning in her own back yard.

AFTER THE STORM:

Personal belongings from Margie and Gene’s home (photographed July 2021). Everything had to go...it was heartbreaking

AFTER INSPIRITUS CAME IN AND HELPED:

Margie and Gene’s street after Inspiritus helped them return their home to its former glory (photographed December 2022)

As if that wasn’t enough, it was the events following the flood that brought them to their proverbial knees. The day after the storm, their home was burglarized by looters and on the third day they received notification from their insurance company that their homeowners’ policy had been canceled. However, they literally kept their heads down, working daily scrubbing and re-scrubbing their floors to get the mud out of their house. At some point, once the adrenaline had passed, Margie recalled falling into despair as she wondered what their fate would be. She remembers days where she wasn’t able to get out of bed due to waves of depression.

Somehow, she learned about Inspiritus and mustered the energy to call. Ever since that day, Inspiritus has been on the job, committed to returning her home to its former glory. With their small life savings, she and her husband invested funding into stabilizing the foundation of their house. However, that left no money for the huge repairs that remained. Then they met RJ and Robert. RJ and Robert are the dynamic duo of Inspiritus construction managers assigned to the home. They are helping Margie and Gene manage the renovation project with funds raised by Inspiritus. It’s a historic home that has been in Margie’s family since it was built in 1913. First, the home had to be mucked, gutted, and sanitized to prevent the mold.

Left to Right - RJ (Inspiritus), Margie & Gene (homeowners), Robert, Kevin & John Moeller (Inspiritus)

Teams of professionals and staff have been in the house every week since. The day I was there, volunteers were painting the inside of the house from top to bottom. Seeing the progress brought joy to Margie’s face, and I could hear hope in her voice. A year and a half after the storm, she is allowing herself to begin to look forward to moving back in. While they lost everything in the flood, including many family heirlooms and sentimental items, they celebrate that at least they have a mattress and box spring, and a small plastic table and chairs from Walmart that will give them a place to enjoy meals.

Margie admits that she didn’t realize how damaged SHE was in the storm. There continue to be days that she is caught off guard by a range of emotions that arise within her when she realizes what she has lost. She described a recent experience where she was ready to pull a casserole out of the oven, and in the heat of the moment, realized she didn’t even have any potholders. They were another casualty of the flood. She found herself enraged that at this stage in her life, she didn’t even own potholders. That’s not to mention all the other things that have been lost, like trips and vacations that she and Gene were looking forward to taking in retirement with their nest egg, which has been completely wiped out.

Despite all of that, she finds hope beginning to dwell inside her again. She put it this way to me, “Inspiritus is not merely repairing our house, they are helping us heal our lives. We are grateful to know that they won’t leave until we are whole.” I’m glad she sees it that way because that is our aim. After all, the Inspiritus mission is to guide individuals and families on a path from surviving to thriving. Inspiritus empowers those whose lives have been disrupted to realize their strength and resilience and accompanies them all along the way.

However, I am stunned by how hard this work is and how long it takes. Saturday, December 10th marked the one-year anniversary of the winter tornado that struck Mayfield, Kentucky. I have been there several times over the last year to support our team and check on the community’s progress. This week, I was stunned by how much work still remains. Entire neighborhoods remain vacant ghost towns. Full city blocks of homes have been scraped, the debris removed, and all that remains are concrete slabs and house numbers out front. It’s reminiscent of a moonscape. However, when I talk to residents, the Inspiritus team, and those who have survived, I get a completely different picture. They smile with hope and say all kinds of progress is being made. Homes are being repaired, people are returning to the neighborhood, and the city is drawing up a master plan for a revitalized city.

A tribute to the children, women and men who perished on the night of the deadly storm. Behind the sign once stood a stately, yet modern courthouse. It was completely destroyed in the storm.

An entire neighborhood once filled the frame of this photo. Today, nothing remains but concrete slabs, and memories. The good news is that city is committed to rebuilding. In the foreground, there is a memorial garden. Those baby trees will someday grow up to provide shade to the grandchildren and great grandchildren of the storm. Nothing about this storm will ever be a distant memory.

Clarissa was one particular resident that Inspiritus has helped. She recounted to me how she was a renter when the tornado hit, and on the day after the storm, her landlord informed her that he did not have homeowners’ insurance. It was the second devastating blow in two days. Not only was the home she lived in severely damaged, but there was no hope of it being repaired. However, over the course of the year, she was able to secure a title to the property from the struggling homeowner. Friends, neighbors, and members of the faith community have rallied around her, and Inspiritus just completed the final repairs to her house this week. While it’s been a struggle, she and her grandson are finally happily living in the house that she says, “love built.”

Left to Right - Colin, Sandra, Clarissa (homeowner), Kevin and John in front of the “house that love built”. Inspiritus partners with homeowners to help them rebuild following a storm. Clarissa is one of the fortunate ones. Literally hundreds of individuals and families remain in limbo. A full 1/4 of the population of the city has all but disappeared from the area.

If you are reading this, I hope you will prayerfully consider making a gift to help survivors like these.

Sincerely,

Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr.
President & CEO of Inspiritus

Hurricane Ian Survivors & Helpers

Uplifting Unsung Heroes

Disaster Volunteers

“To be a Disaster Relief volunteer is part of being a humanitarian. We have to be there to support our communities and to support the people around us… whether those people are part of our community or not. Why not put that goodwill out there and make a difference if we can?”

-Cammie Cooley,
Inspiritus Disaster Relief Volunteer

---

Strength in Community 

Disaster Partners

Inspiritus Disaster Response teams will be on the ground in Fort Myers, FL through February 2023. Your help is still needed. Join incredible volunteers like Cammie who are on the ground with Hurricane Ian storm survivors facing a long road to recovery. From gutting homes and clearing debris to creating meaningful connections with disaster survivors and fellow volunteers, donating your hearts, hands, and time with Inspiritus Disaster Relief can positively impact your life and the lives of those impacted by this devastating storm. 

If you are available to volunteer for a few hours, days or weeks, our incredible team is looking forward to meeting you! All skill levels are welcomed and training is provided. Learn more or sign up to volunteer here: www.weinspirit.org/drvolunteers.

Our partners at ToolBank USA, deploy staff and trailers filled with tools that help community-based organizations, like Inspiritus, respond faster. They have provided over $340K worth of tools (at no cost) to organizations across Florida to aid in the disaster relief efforts. The tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) that the ToolBank provides our teams are especially critical during large-scale relief efforts like Hurricane Ian. Their continued support helps us meet the needs of Disaster Survivors who do not have the resources to clean up and repair their homes on their own.

If your organization is looking for ways to help, contact Sherry Buresh, Executive Director of Disaster Relief programs at Sherry.Buresh@weinspirit.org

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Your support will empower Hurricane Ian survivors to receive assistance right now, when it’s desperately needed. Prayerfully consider joining us, in whatever way is right for you-- in your hearts, in your actions, and in your prayers.

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. You can help storm Survivors receive much needed help: Social, Emotional, & Spiritual Care, Muck & Gut services to remove water damage from their homes, Roof Tarps, Chainsawing, Debris Removal, and even Heavy Equipment Assistance. 

VOLUNTEER

This work would not be possible without hundreds of HEROIC volunteers, and supporters like you.

Prayerfully consider joining us in SW Florida now through the end of February 2023. We especially need Team Leads to guide volunteer groups with Muck & Gut and Debris Removal, but all hands are welcome, and all skills can be helpful. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (239) 560-1554 or visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

SHARE STORIES

We invite you to share, follow and like us on your favorite platform below and learn more about the people impacted by this storm and how neighbors and strangers alike, can make a difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareinspiritus/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareinspiritus

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/inspiritus-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareinspiritus

We are grateful for your compassion and commitment to empower individuals on their path from Surviving to thriving.



Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#Inspiritus #SurvivingToThriving #HurricaneIan #DisasterRelief

Refugee Resettlement: Organize a Co-Sponsorship Group!

Dear Friends,

Get involved with refugee resettlement by organizing a Co-Sponsorship Group! 

Inspiritus welcomes hundreds of refugees into Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama each year, but we cannot do this great work alone. Resettlement agencies rely on the support of the community to effectively welcome and set individuals on a path from surviving to thriving.

Inspiritus RIS volunteers from the Zen Garland Order prepare to welcome a newly arrived Afghan family at the Savannah airport.

Co-Sponsorship is a special relationship between a local resettlement agency, a community group, and a refugee family. This type of volunteer commitment is incredibly important to the work of welcome. Co-sponsors bring an essential level of commitment, continuity, and care for the refugees they serve and significantly multiply and extend the services refugees receive.

Although co-sponsorship is a serious commitment, it is also a meaningful way to engage with refugees. The main goal of co-sponsorship is to help refugees adjust to life in the United States and achieve self-sufficiency by being a support system, community guide, and friend during their first 6 months in the U.S. (and hopefully beyond).

What Help Do Co-Sponsors Provide?

Groups must provide at least 8 of the core services listed below. Support will be provided by Inspiritus staff for completing these services.

Pre-Arrival:

• Housing

• Home Set-Up

• Furnishings and Supplies *Furnishings and supplies check lists provided

• Seasonal Clothing

• Stock the Pantry *Culturally appropriate grocery guide provided

• Welcome Meal: *Culturally appropriate food list provided

Post Arrival *All post arrival services will be provided with appropriate interpretation, if needed:

• Airport Pick Up *Airport pick up guide provided

• 24-Hour Home Visit

• Housing and Personal Safety Orientation

• Public Assistance Enrollment (Cash Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP)

• Social Security Card Application

• File for AR-11

• Employment Program Enrollment Follow Up

• ESL Enrollment

• Selective Service Registration

• School Enrollment

• Other Public Assistance Application as Applicable (SSI, WIC etc.)

• Second Home Visit

• Cultural Orientation *Topics and guide provided (coresourceexchange.org)

• Cultural Orientation Assessment *CO Assessment form and guidelines provided

• Transportation to Job Interviews and Job Training

Additional Services the Co-sponsorship Group May Wish to Provide:

• Rental Assistance

• Community Guide

• Grocery Store Orientation

• General Health Orientation

• Financial Education

• Help the family set up a bank account

• English Language Tutoring

• Job Development

• Public Transportation Orientation

• Continued Transportation Assistance

Requirements:

• Must sign a commitment form with Inspiritus

• Must commit to serve for 6 months

• Must commit to a financial contribution to be used by Inspiritus to help refugees

• All team members must attend a co-sponsorship training

• All team members must complete a background check

• Must provide at least 8 core services

Interested in co-sponsoring a refugee family or have questions? Contact Community Engagement Manager, Sarah Burke, at sarah.burke@weinspirit.org.

With gratitude,
Sarah Burke
Community Engagement Manager
Inspiritus

Uplifting Unsung Heroes: Disaster Volunteers

Disaster relief volunteers are the heartbeat of our work. Whether you’re new to Disaster Relief volunteering or have experienced multiple deployments, there is always a place for you. Nikki Membrere joined us this year during the Eastern Kentucky flooding and then again with Hurricane Ian in SW Florida. Like many volunteers, Nikki was compelled to help where needed. Our teams trained and supported her in volunteer coordination on the ground and in helping us conduct background checks remotely. She traveled cross-country-- from California to Florida-- to help Survivors who's lives have been turned upside down by a disaster. In the video below, she describes the ways you can join us in helping the many individuals and families still on their road to recovery.

For more information on how you can help, visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers.

"When you put things into perspective, especially hearing and seeing all these stories that have happened to everyday people...it makes you feel appreciative of everything you have, especially when you're not in the situation and on the other side."

-Nikki Membrere,
Inspiritus Disaster Volunteer

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Strength in Community 

Disaster Partners

We cannot do this work without the individuals and organizations that join us from near and far in delivering life-saving tools, resources and help.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T) is one of our incredible partners that is dedicated to making a lasting impact in communities recovering from a disaster. The critical supplies and funding they donate to Inspiritus helps us meet many of the needs Survivors face in the aftermath of large-scale storms, like Hurricane Ian. Just last week, they organized a fundraiser in Fort Myers, FL to help extend our Response efforts so more individuals and families can get the help they need.

Thanks to the efforts of T2T and supporters like you, we will be on the ground until February 2023!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Your support will empower Hurricane Ian survivors to receive assistance right now, when it’s desperately needed. Prayerfully consider joining us, in whatever way is right for you-- in your hearts, in your actions, and in your prayers. 

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. You can help storm Survivors receive much needed help: Social, Emotional and Spiritual Care, Muck & Gut services to remove water damage from their homes, Roof Tarps, Chainsawing, Debris Removal, and even Heavy Equipment Assistance.

VOLUNTEER

This work would not be possible without hundreds of HEROIC volunteers, and supporters like you.

Prayerfully consider joining us in SW Florida now through November 23. We especially need Team Leads to guide volunteer groups with Muck & Gut and Debris Removal, but all hands are welcome, and all skills can be helpful. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (239) 560-1554 or visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

SHARE STORIES

We invite you to share, follow and like us on your favorite platform below and learn more about the people impacted by this storm and how neighbors and strangers alike, can make a difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareinspiritus/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareinspiritus

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/inspiritus-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareinspiritus

We are grateful for your compassion and commitment to empower individuals on their path from Surviving to thriving.



Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#Inspiritus #SurvivingToThriving #HurricaneIan #DisasterRelief

Inspiritus: Community Recognition and Awards

John Moeller Named One of Georgia's 500 Most Influential Leaders

AWARD-WINNING IMPACT

Reflecting on the past few years, Inspiritus has emerged through seasons that were filled with both challenges and victories. We want to take this moment to celebrate with you two outstanding acknowledgments that reflect the commitment and perseverance of the people that make this organization great. The success of our work is built on the efforts of our staff, board, volunteers and collaborative partners. Thank you for helping us provide award-winning services to neighbors that need it the most.

John Moeller, President & CEO of Inspiritus, was named one of Georgia’s 500 most influential leaders for 2022 by Georgia Trend magazine. The list of leaders was published in a special annual magazine called Georgia 500. It identifies the state’s most influential leaders across 21 industry sectors focusing on economic development and local investment.  Selections are based on extensive research, nominations, and hundreds of interviews, resulting in a selective guide to Georgians who impact the Peach State. Moeller was named in the non-profit sector.

“I am humbled to be recognized in Georgia Trend’s Most Influential Leaders 2022,” said Moeller, “It is a testament not to me, but to our incredibly dedicated teams. This honor is a reflection of their leadership and commitment to seeing individuals to thriving. I am grateful to our board, staff, volunteers and partners who continue to stand with us. There's no higher calling than to community service."

John Moeller's unrelenting commitment to empowering those we accompany on their path from surviving to thriving is truly an inspiration to the Inspiritus organization, our collaborative partners and the communities in which we serve. Congratulations John!

The feature above reads: Inspiritus, formerly Lutheran Services of Georgia, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting individuals and families across Georgia whose lives have been disrupted by abuse, neglect, torture, economic distress and natural disaster. It provides a mix of services in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, among them: refugee and immigrant services, including Afghan Ally resettlement, social adjustment, cultural orientation and legal services; assistance in the wake of natural disaster; and children’s and family services. Including foster homes.

Moeller is an elder in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and has pastored several churches in North Georgia. He served 10 years as CEO of Must Ministries in Marietta and another six years heading Action Ministries in Atlanta. He also is an established speaker on topics such as leadership, nonprofit governance, volunteerism and strategic planning.

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Center for Nonprofit Management Honors Inspiritus' Middle Tennessee Empowerment Programs

Last month, the Center for Nonprofit Management in Nashville held its 29th annual Salute to Excellence Awards, the country's largest nonprofit awards ceremony, bringing together leaders in local business, community, and nonprofit sectors for a night of recognition and celebration at Belmont University’s The Fisher Center for Performing Arts.

Inspiritus is honored to have been awarded The Memorial Foundation 2022 Leadership Award from the Center for Nonprofit Management. With over 145 applications submitted, 30 nonprofit organizations and leaders were recognized as winners and finalists across 13 award categories of excellence. The finalist organizations were comprised of nonprofits large and small in diverse service areas supporting communities across Middle Tennessee. The Inspiritus team is humbled to take part in such an amazing event!

Facebook Video: Inspiritus Middle Tennessee Empowerment Programs' highlight video shown at the 2022 Salute to Excellence Awards Ceremony by the Center for Nonprofit Management (Nashville)

Please join us in celebrating all who make this work possible, yourself included. We are grateful for the compassion and commitment of all who help Inspiritus continue to successfully empower our neighbors on their journeys from Surviving to Thriving.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus