SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – Cleaning out a spare bedroom or the basement? Mary J. Treglia Community House wants to help refugees feel more at home in their new space and need furniture donations.
Since October of last year, they’ve helped 87 individuals and expect another 5 more this week.
Just recently they’ve seen the demand for anything to fill a home like chairs, tables, beds and couches as people come from their home country to Siouxland with little to nothing other than a suitcase.
Mary J. Treglia Community House works with them to get plugged in to start , help them with work permits, and green cards, and for the kids- enrolled in schools.
Refugees get the crucial help they need with immigration cases regardless of income.
Furniture is one of the last things they are worried about but it can help make the transition easier.
“Our organization works with the U.S. Conference for Catholic Bishops to resettle refugees in the Siouxland area. Individuals and families come with almost nothing except, of course, to find a better life than the one they were forced to leave behind,” said Shari Kiple, .
According to the first quarter report of 2024, people have arrived from Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Somalia and Venezuela.
”It helps to give them a sense of home, especially after they need to leave their home. And so it brings them comfort and security that they’ll be okay in this new environment,” said Office Manager Yareli Flores.
They’ve received some donations in the past from families in Siouxland.
“My parents had a chair that was my grandma’s and they had me make arrangements for them to pick it up. The caseworker picked it up at my house and immediately when she got there to their house, she sent me this message and it just said, Mama was so happy the kids all took turns sitting in the chair and they were so excited,” said Kiple.
The goal is to connect these families with community resources, and housing applications.
There is currently a waitlist for their services as they work to get refugees into homes and their many programs.
Reyna Cordero is from Guatemala and has been in Siouxland for 3 months with her family.
She said the support from the community and the immediate assistance made the difficult journey easier for the family.
“We have received a stove a fridge, tables, and beds that have all been very useful to us. And of course, our food,” Cordero told KTIV in Spanish, translated by Flores.
If you have furniture you’d like to donate to the Mary J. Tregila House, contact the office at (712) 258-5137.
Staff can coordinate a drop-off time at the House located at 900 Jennings Street in Sioux City, or they can also come and pick it up from you.
Mary J. Treglia Community House has welcomed newcomers to Sioux City since 1921. The organization has created, and still exists today, to be a place where immigrants can feel welcome.
Staff with the house added that “World Refugee Day” is coming up on Thursday, June 20. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by refugees and honoring their strength, courage, and resilience.
to make a monetary donation to Mary J. Treglia Community House.
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