Nonprofits in Texas will soon start to receive refugees from Ukraine while still helping to resettle refugees from Afghanistan. Last week, the Biden Administration said the U.S. would accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.
California and Texas will likely receive the most. Dennis Page, chief operating officer of Gateway of Grace Ministries in Dallas, says many refugees come to Texas because DFW Airport has so many international connections, and North Texas has a large international population.
"Our hope would be, as we do what Americans do so well, and that is show compassion, that we don't forget about refugees from other countries," he says.
Page says he will be ready to accept Ukrainian refugees, but his organization is still receiving two to three Afghan families a week. He says dozens of refugees are staying at hotels nearby.
"It's going well as it relates to us being able to serve them, but what we're finding out is there are still so many who are placed in these extended stay hotels and motels," he says.
Page says his work at Gateway of Grace centers around helping refugees adapt to new lives in the United States.
"There's a process of just adjusting to all the freedom, the infrastructure we have," he says. "Things are a lot more structured and organized."
He says many of the male refugees were targeted by the Taliban because they worked with United States armed forces as interpreters, so many of the men already know English, but most women do not and come from a background where they are not allowed to travel freely.
"The cultural difference is huge," Page says. "Among refugees, for some, it can be a bit of shock, there can be a bit of depression just trying to comprehend the measures of freedom people can have. They're not used to that. The transition process is big."
Gateway of Grace does not resettle refugees itself, but the organization works with resettlement agencies to help people adjust. Refugees may come alone or with immediate family. Page says his greatest need is people who can teach English as a second language.
"When I say that, people are often a little perplexed," he says. "You don't have to be a certified teacher or a qualified ESL teacher. We can train you to do it."
Page says refugees coming from Ukraine will likely need less time with English classes, but he will still need warehouse space to collect furniture for refugees who will ultimately be moved from extended stay hotels to apartments.
People can find more information about donating warehouse space or learning how to help with English as a second language classes at https://www.gatewayofgrace.org/support-us .
Once refugees start adjusting to life in the United States, Page says many embrace newfound freedom.
"We see people developing. In particular, young ladies, when they come from very conservative countries that don't allow women to be educated or work, when they come here and they taste it, not only is it available, we are surrounding them with people who are encouraging them," he says. "We want this for you. It's not just allowed, but this is what we desire for you."
In one case, he says a woman who had come from Afghanistan asked him for advice as she decided whether to become a nurse or teacher.
"She was sharing with me what her leanings might be, and I just told her, 'It doesn't matter to me which direction you go. I just want to someday sit in an auditorium and see you walk across the stage and receive a diploma," Page says.
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