Local group made the rescue possible

By THERESA HOGUE

Gazette-Times reporter

This evening, if all goes well, a family of Iraqi refugees will arrive in Corvallis to see their new home for the first time - and the preparations for their arrival were finished just in time.

Tuesday afternoon, a group of Corvallis volunteers bustled around the apartment that they've rented for the refugee family. They arranged the donated furniture, figured out just the right spot for the television set and cleaned a bookshelf.

"It's been really nice to plan ahead and see 'Hmm, what are we missing?'," said Loerna Simpson, one of the members of the new community group WITO (Welcoming Iraqis to Oregon), who was helping oversee the apartment arrangement Tuesday.

WITO was formed was formed in April to help bring Iraqi refugees to Corvallis through Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Through EMO's subgroup SOAR (Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees), Ecumenical Ministries helps refugee families from all over the world find new homes in Oregon.

Another refugee family had been set to arrive in early July. That family included two parents, a teenage son and two adult daughters. But unforeseen problems prevented them from entering the United States. The family's current status is still unclear, but since then, another refugee family has been processed through and is set to arrive tonight.

The family to be welcomed today includes a mother and her three young children, a 2-year-old girl, a 4-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. Although WITO members had to switch gears for the new family, they already had many donations of furniture and house supplies lined up, and were able to scramble for things appropriate for a young family, including bunk beds, small chairs and tables, as well as toys and books. Volunteers even made three child-sized quilts to place on the children's beds.

"The cupboards have been stocked," Simpson said, standing in the kitchen and making a quick check. The cleaning supplies were placed up high to keep them out of toddler reach, and another volunteer had placed some plastic fencing material around the back patio to keep wandering kids contained.

"People have been so generous," Simpson said, that they now have enough donations for both the incoming family, and the eventual arrival of the other Iraqi family. The only thing they're now short on are twin sheet sets.

The apartment is located close to shopping and is near a bus stop, so that the family easily can access public transportation. After their arrival, volunteer translators will help them settle into the community and fill out paperwork for such things as health care, food stamps and other services. Child care, educational programs and possible employment are details that will be arranged once volunteers know more about the family's situation.

Details of the family and their refugee status have not been released to protect their privacy.

Simpson plans to be waiting in the apartment to welcome the family when they arrive. They'll also be greeted by potted plants on their doorstep donated by Schmidt's Nursery, and stuffed bunnies on the children's beds, all in keeping with the warm, homey feeling that WITO volunteers hope makes their new home comforting.