DEAR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS: Last year at this time, we came together and donated stocking stuffers for young girls at a group foster home in our neighborhood. This year, one of our neighbors, Sarah Griffiths, has helped identify a refugee family in need of our support. Rusom Okubamichael, 46, died in November after being struck by a car while crossing First Avenue near Grant. He left behind his wife, Atsede, who is expecting a baby girl in February, and five other children, ranging in age from 20 to 3. Rusom and Atsede fled Eritrea in Northern Africa after Rusom fought in the Eritrean liberation struggle for independence. They emigrated to Tucson in 2012 and Rusom was a much-beloved employee at JW Atsede and three of her children Marriott Starr Pass Resort before his death. THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS WE CAN HELP: 1. By making a donation for the family to Iskashitaa, a non-profit that helps refugees in Tucson. Online donations can be made at iskashitaa.org or checks can be sent to: Iskashitaa, 1406 E. Grant Road, 85719. (Be sure to note that the tax-deductible donation is for the Rusom Memorial Fund.) 2. By bringing packages of diapers of all sizes on Dec. 21 for the daughter that Atsede is expecting in February and for the youngest boy, who is 3. Several refugee families and the founder of Iskashitaa, which began as a neighborhood fruit-harvesting project, will join us at the potluck brunch and luminaries assembling on Dec. 21. Iskashitaa harvests fruit from backyard trees, which refugee families transform into jams, jellies and juice. If you have any harvested fruit from your trees, please bring it on Dec. 21, or call Iskashitaa Refugee Network (HarvestTucson.org) at 440-0100 if you would like them to harvest it for you. Thank you, Ann-Eve, Pete and Lars IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL SARAH GRIFFITHS AT [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 04:51:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015