January – A local church began training to be the first congregation in Northwest Ohio to adopt a refugee family.
February – Another local church visited our evening school with treats for the students and a message of love: “We’re glad God brought you to Toledo, Welcome!”
March – WFI hosted a training for local mental health care providers on helping Muslim clients with PTSD.
April – Our annual International Dinner welcomed 400 guests and raised money for refugee teens to attend supplemental English classes to help them succeed in High School.
May – American School for Children was awarded a State of Ohio Step Up to Quality star rating!
June – Several local churches observed World Refugee Sunday with prayer for forcibly displaced people.
July – Our community responded to an Independence Day mailing, sending cards and scholarship gifts to welcome people from other countries to Toledo.
August – WFI’s offer on the property at 211 Reynolds road was accepted, contingent on our ability to raise all the funds needed in 60 days.
September – At the end of 60 days, $120,000 (in addition to the previous $150,000 previously given) had been raised. It was not enough to purchase the 211 N Reynolds property, but we now have $270,000 raised towards a new home for Water For Ishmael.
October – Citizenship program launched! In cooperation with Adelante and Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, help for lawful permanent residents to learn the basics of US government and become naturalized citizens.
November – American School for Kids launched! Homework help and English language enrichment for elementary aged kids of students in our American School Evening program.
December – Zoo lights! Thanks to an anonymous donor from a local church, we were able to treat whole families from our American School Kids program to a wonderful evening of fun at the Toledo Zoo lights before Christmas.