The past several weeks have been extremely challenging and nerve wracking for the Haitian immigrant community and their allies in Springfield, Ohio.
Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church‘s Mission Ministry and Antiracism Team is extending its support and welcome to Haitians there. Kids, youth and adults are writing postcards to the mayor or Haitian community group for distribution, with the message “We welcome you and wish you many blessings.” They hope to inspire other congregations with this simple act of kindness. As most all Haitians are Christian, mostly Catholic, an alternative is to say something like: “Jesus welcomed the stranger and so do we.”
Member Linnie Girdner commented, “We feel this would be a balm to them and also a statement of our values to welcome the stranger, to use love as an action verb, and to be an antidote to the vile racism and xenophobia targeting them.
Meanwhile, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Ohio ministers to its community, including its Haitian siblings.
What else can be done?
- Spread messages of love and support: The Ohio Immigrant Alliance has launched One Love Ohio, a crowd-sourced platform of stories of kindness, community-building, solidarity and support. Share these stores and submit your own here!
- Write op-eds to your local paper to call out political violence.
- Donate to Local Organizations in Ohio.
- Feel free to contact Susan Krehbiel (skrehbiel@baltimorepresbytery.org) for more information.
