With support from the community, Hope UMC in Marshalltown currently leads a project for Ukrainian refugee resettlement. Supporting the Ukrainian refugees is a robust ecumenical project in partnership with St. Henry's Catholic Church and others who are resettling Ukrainian refugees in Marshall County. We welcomed a family of six from Ukraine in September 2022, two more families of six and seven arrived in October 2022, and two more families (each of three people) will arrive before the end of the year!
"When I arrived in Marshalltown, I quickly discovered the community's passion for caring for one's neighbor and for welcoming immigrants and refugees from around the world," said Rev. Dani Musselman, pastor at Marshalltown's Hope United Methodist Church. "Churches and leaders in the Marshalltown community have worked tirelessly to learn the United States government refugee sponsorship application and resettlement process, identifying families from Ukraine seeking refuge in the United States, identifying sponsors, discovering available homes to house refugees, fundraising, organizing donation drives, and praying."
Hope UMC has identified two more families from Ukraine to move to Marshalltown, and their sponsorship applications are in process, likely moving them to Iowa in November 2022. With these five currently identified families, the church hopes to financially support them until they become self-sufficient and safe in a new environment. Refugee sponsorship through the US government is a two-year support program (with the hopes of an extension), so each family can choose to settle here longer and hopefully make Iowa their forever home. Part of the financial support we need to support Ukraine families includes payment for:
- Employment authorization applications (work visas)
- Rent and utilities
- Gas for cars that they have received on loan from local Marshalltown families
- Groceries
- Dental hygiene (and health care not supported through Medicaid)
- and more
The grandmother, Kateryna, of the family already settled in Marshalltown, said about the United States: "It's a beautiful country, but the people are even more beautiful here."
If you'd like to financially support Ukrainian refugees sponsored by Hope United Methodist Church in Marshalltown, you're welcome to send a check to Hope UMC and specify your gift as "Ukraine Support" to Hope United Methodist Church, 2203 S. 3rd Ave., Marshalltown, Iowa 50158
Hope UMC has also made it possible for you to donate financially online on their church website by clicking here:
lifeinhopemarshalltown.org/giving.
Thank you for considering and supporting this amazing ministry!
"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." - Deuteronomy 10:17-19
