Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Program (IRRP)
Welcoming New Neighbors

First Congregational Church in Concord is the current site of ESOL classes for newly arrived refugees. Read more.	Temple Beth Jacob, Concord, publishes a monthly Mitzvah in their bulletin. Read more.

Congregations, schools and other organizations throughout Central New Hampshire have contributed given generously to the refugee program.

Historically, churches in the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire have partnered with Lutheran Social Services to help provide assistance to the clients we serve. The Right Rev. Bishop Theuner, retired Bishop of New Hampshire, sits on the Board of Directors of LSS. The Diocese of New Hampshire has been a major supporter of LSS Northern New England since the agency began to resettle refugees in 1997.

Does your church have an Outreach Committee which makes annual contributions to programs in need? Is your congregation interested in getting more involved in a particular outreach project?

We are available to come speak to your board of trustees, vestry, adult forum or outreach committee about our programs and ways you could contribute your time and talent to help us continue to provide excellent care for our clients.

IRRP HOME

The Mitzvah Girls: encouraging anonymous giving

"The 'Mitzvah Girls,' led by Jean Buck (jean.buck@comcast.net), runs a program called monthly mitzvah, which lists a few items in each month's bulletin (of Temple Beth Jacob) that are needed for refugee resettlement such as dishsoap, etc...It's basically a collection box in the front lobby, and Jean takes care of putting the monthly reminders in the Bulletin and getting the collected items to LSS or to First Congregational Church in Concord. It's supposed to be a constant reminder that when you're at the store buying dishsoap or the like for yourself, you should pick up another bottle for someone else. The idea of the Mitzvah (Hebrew for Commandment) is that it is your responsibility to take care of others in your broader community, and one of the highest levels of the mitzvah is to 1) give anonymously, and 2) to give the things that someone else will need to help themselves." - Nancy Jo Chabot, Temple Beth Jacob

First Congregational: reaching out and reaching in

First Congregational Church in Concord has provided the Interfaith Refugee Resettlement program a home for its ESOL literacy classes. A convenient location for newly arriving refugees with no access to car transport, First Congregation has been a welcoming place for adult students and their pre-K children.

The church has also been a conduit for other services for refugees starting their lives over in the Granite State. Students have received donations in the form of food, clothing, diapers and bus vouchers.

"Early in the ESL program, some of the children, under 4 years old, who spoke almost no English, would romp through the office area of the church after class. They came into my office, climbed up on my lap, typed on the computer, and generally took over the place. It was delightful," remarked David Keller, pastor of First Congregation, "I keep some toys in my office, including a few animal puppets. I used the puppets with these children, and then gave them to the kids, but then I found that I couldn't communicate that I wanted them back! Finally we managed to get the things straight. After that, they came in, expecting to get the use of the puppets, and from then on willing to give them back -- so long as they could keep coming back."

IRRP HOME

Interfaith Refugee Resettlement
261 Sheep Davis Rd., A-1
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 224-8111 fx. 224-5473
Info@LSSNE.org