A WELCOME SIGN

Staff report

toledo

Take a mix of 20 American teenagers and adults of Christian and Muslim faiths, add seven refugee families from Syria, including a curly-haired toddler, serve up plenty of food, sprinkle in a giant bouncing ball and some bubbles, and what do you get? A recipe for world peace.

This recipe is what the US Together-Toledo, a refugee resettlement agency, along with members of the First Federated Church in North Jackson, Randa Shabayek of Masjid Alkair and the Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown and Omar Bayrak, the imam of the mosque from the Turkish American Cultural Center in Liberty, were all working on when they gathered to observe World Refugee Day at the end of June.

This was the second trip for the First Federated Church, with the first trip last year being “such an amazing experience of human kindness that I wondered how it would ever be possible to top it,” explained Jack Acri, pastor of First Federated Church.

This year, the church teamed up with local mosques to make the journey.

The US Together organization “spends so much time helping families learn the day-to-day things of life in America plus helping with job searches and teaching English, that there isn’t adequate social time,” said Corine Dehabey, US Together coordinator. It’s important to introduce the people to fun, relaxing activities and to meet friendly people.

The group traveled to Wildwood Preserve in Toledo, which is comparable to Mill Creek Park. Participants spent the day playing games, blowing bubbles and doing other activities.

Pastor Acri said, “We’re not so naive as to think these trips fix everything, but for these families, it is reassurance that love still exists in humanity.”

Shabayek added, “As Prophet Muhammad said, ‘Whoever helps their brother during a time of need, Allah will help them when they are in need.’”

A banner held up in one of the groups’ photos reads, “No matter where you are from, we’re glad you are our neighbor,” in Spanish, English and Arabic.

For these refugee families, it is a welcome sign.