CCS event highlights plight of refugees

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SALT LAKE CITY — On June 20, World Refugee Day, Catholic Community Services of Utah presented “Forced to Flee” at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City. The event highlighted refugees who have settled in Utah as well as the nonprofit organization’s many programs that help these new members of the community.

The goal for the Forced to Flee event is to raise awareness, “to let our community know the refugees that we have here in our community and what the issues are and what services they need,” said Aden Batar, CCS migration and refugee services director. “Also, so we can get more resources for the refugees, whether we get volunteers, financial support or foster families that would take children into their homes.”

At the event CCS staff and volunteers, several of them former refugees themselves, manned tables covered in information about the programs. Scattered throughout the plaza were life-size posters of refugees containing information about their individual experiences. People could also get a photo taken at a booth, which they could then include in a welcome card for future refugees.

Batar shared some sobering statistics with those at the event. Currently the number of refugees who have been forced to flee their countries stands at 100 million worldwide, he said. “Every year that number is going to increase. Of that 100 million, 35 million are refugees in the refugee camps. That is a huge number compared to previous years, when we had a little over 20 million refugees. These are individuals and families that need protection, need resettlement. Unfortunately, less than 1 percent of those individuals get resettlement every year.”

Utah is home to more than 70,000 refugees, he reported. “Today the programs we have here are to shed light on the refugees that are coming into our community, what kind of services they receive, what programs that help them.”

Following Batar’s presentation, CCS program managers shared information about the organization’s refugee services, which include resettlement, foster care for unaccompanied minors and immigration help. CCS currently serves more than 600 individuals, including refugees and migrants. Of those, 300 are Afghans and 250 are Ukrainians working on gaining asylum; 60 are foster care children.

Next on the agenda at the event was Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s policy advisor for refugees, Roxana Orellana, who read a proclamation declaring June 20 World Refugee Day in Salt Lake City.

CCS’s mission is in harmony with Catholic Social Teaching, said Father John Evans, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Cottonwood Heights who is finishing a three-year term as president of CCS’s Board of Trustees. He was among those who attended the event.

“As good Christians, as good people who follow God, we should want to care for the vulnerable, the poor, those who we actually give a preferential care for,” Fr. Evans said. “The refugees are fleeing so many dangerous, perilous situations that it’s good for us to reach out to them and try to assist them where we can. You never know when you might find yourself, or someone you love, in that situation too. We don’t just do it to care for our own, we do it out of a respect for the dignity of the human person – therefore we should do it for everybody – and we do.”  

The board president’s position is typically a two-year term, but it was extended a year due to the pandemic. Despite the additional time in that position, Fr. Evans’ did not find the commitment difficult, he said.

“I don’t see it as giving up time; I see it as investing,” he said. “We have to invest ourselves in the things that we care about individually but also communally. As the Body of Christ here in Utah, in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, we care about the poor and the vulnerable, the refugees, those who need help.”

Katherina Holzhauser, a current CCS board member, is the incoming board of trustees’ president; she will take the position on July 1.

Volunteer Opportunities at CS’ Migration and Refugee Services

Catholic Community Services of Utah is asking local Catholics to help the refugee community assimilate into life in Utah. For volunteer opportunities, visit csutah.org.

The CCS Volunteer Orientation is available at ttps://catholiccommunityservicesofutah.duplie.com/forms/10620/register

To volunteer to set up apartments or volunteer at the Sharehouse, visit ttps://ccsutah.volunteerhub.com/vv2/?eventGroupId=352457033de14e1786398af478e21c71