The debate on whether or not to allow Syrian refugees to enter the United States of America has recently become a very controversial issue. Nevertheless, the mayor of Allentown has decided to welcome a large number of refugees to his city and the surrounding Lehigh Valley.

Syrian refugees both nationally and locally have been receiving the aid of many refugee and volunteer programs, such as the Lutheran and Children Family Services (LCFS) and the Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley (MALV).

After a refugee receives approval overseas, the LCFS must confirm that they can take them in four to six months before they arrive. The LCFS must find the refugee an apartment, and they will receive a two-week notice before traveling. When the family arrives in America, a member of the LCFS will pick them up at the airport and drive them to their new home.

“In the first 90 days, we have a number of course services we help the refugees with,” program director of the LCFS Janet Panning said. “We make sure the kids are enrolled in school, that they get medical assistance, health screening, food stamps, that they’re connected to employment services, and any other resources they need to become self-sufficient in a very short period of time. We also have an employment program to help them find jobs as soon as possible.”

The MALV and LCFS have enrolled all refugee children in school, primarily in the Allentown School District. This is convenient for the refugee families because of cheap and available housing, as well as accessible public transportation. Most of the children that have arrived are in elementary school. However, some have trouble adjusting and face frustration due to the drastic change.

“At a national refugee meeting I attended with the LCFS, I reached out to mental health professionals about what we should do with these kids,” refugee coordinator of MALV Sherrine Eid said. “We are going to work with two mental health professionals in our community and they’re going to do some home visits and coordinating with the neighborhood clinic. They support physical, behavioral, and mental health for the refugees.”

MALV also has a troop of women who take refugees to medical appointments, drivers license tests, and any other social systemic things they need.

“One of our Syrian ladies had her gallbladder taken out in an emergency surgery, so there were a team of women who stayed there with her and translated for her and supported her family,” Eid said. “They help one another, so the kids stayed with one of the other refugee families. They’re making their own network.”

MALV is expecting another wave of refugees in March, and then June. They are currently preparing welcome bins for them, and collecting clothes, household items, appliances, and money from the community.

“We are able to supply the refugees with brand new stuff because we have a very generous community here, of all faiths, not just the Muslims,” Eid said. “We’ve had Atheists, Jews, Buddhists, and Christians, all reaching out and saying, ‘how can we help?’”

MALV and LCFS both provide English language classes for the refugees, since the majority do not speak fluent English when they first arrive.

“A majority of the refugees were in the early demonstrations in the attempt at Syrian revolution,” Eid said. “They all had the same story. They weren’t asking for Bashar al-Assad [president of Syria] to step down; they just wanted equal rights; they just wanted equal opportunities; they just wanted a more equal existence. They didn’t want just a typical group to get more priority or privileges, they wanted all Syrians to get the same opportunities. It is phenomenal how productive this particular population is.”

The war in Syria has been going on for five years, and it shows no signs of ending anytime soon. Fighting continues to intensify in all regions. Usually during a violent war like this, people flee somewhere close to their country in hopes of returning later. However, after five years of struggle and conflict, Syrians are losing hope for peace. This is why they are migrating in high numbers to seek safety and freedom from their corrupt government.

“[Helping the refugees] certainly enriches my own concept of my country. Hearing people’s stories makes me realize how grateful I am for living in a country where I can speak up no matter who disagrees with me. I’m not gonna get shot for speaking my mind,” Panning said. “So many people flee from countries where they can’t speak up, where you can’t work to change your government, and we live in a society where we all have the same opportunities to change our policies through our democratic process. I have learned to gain a strong respect for our

system of government, as flawed as it is.”

Allentown community mosques and refugee organizations alike have been successfully helping the refugees adjust to life in America more comfortably.

“[When I found out I was coming out to America] I was scared. I didn’t know where to go. It was unknown for me to come over here,” Syrian refugee Ahmed Athmna said. “When I found out there was a big Muslim and Arabic community over here, I felt better. The community is helping my family and I, and our situation is getting better.”

If you’re interested in donating or otherwise offering your help to local refugees, feel free to visit LCFS at lcfsinpa.org and MALV at malvwp.malvia.org for more information.