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– A big 60 day push to purchase a new home faor WFI: $120,000 was raised in that time. ($150,000 previously) 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.
September– A new school year began with students from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.
October– 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 are able to treat whole families from our American School Kids program to a wonderful evening of fun at the Toledo Zoo lights before Christmas.