The Al Shaibani family
Calaya Van Dreel
Calaya Van Dreel, Refugee Youth Coordinator for Interfaith Action of Central Texas, spoke to us on December 11th. She told that Interfaith Action of Central Texas exists to build healthy relationships between the faith communities of Central Texas. They have several programs that serve our local community. The Red Bench program is an ongoing dialogue program designed to address one of the most pressing needs of our time: improving interfaith understanding and civil discourse in our society. The Passport Program allows participants to visit different places of worship during the year and learn about those different faiths. The Hands on Housing program provides assistance with home repairs. The financial literacy program for youth, which our club supports, provides financial education for youth grades 6 through 12. iACT’s Refugee program provides English as a Second Language classes for refugees 18 and older. They also have a youth mentoring program and provide health and wellness education. In 2024, iACT supported almost 800 refugees from 21 countries. Calaya told us that our club has been supporting a refugee family for over 10 years. Last year, we supported the Shamsi family. This year our family is the Al Shaibani family; he was an interpreter in Iraq and is now attending graduate school while he and his wife raise five children. They need rent assistance and utilities, bedding, winter clothing, and furniture. For those who would like to volunteer, iACT is always looking for mentors for its youth mentor program. For more information, go to www.interfaithtexas.org.
The Al Shaibani family is looking for the following items;
Housing and Furniture:
- Beds and bedding for five children (twin and full sizes).
- A dining table and chairs for a family of seven.
- Dressers or wardrobes for clothing storage.
Transportation:
- A reliable used car
- Gas gift cards.
- Car maintenance gift cards (for oil changes, tires, etc.).
Clothing and Shoes:
- Men's clothing size medium, shoe size 9.5
- Women's clothing size Medium, shoe size 9.5
- 13-year-old: Boy's clothing size medium , shoe size 10
- 13-year-old: Girl's clothing size, small , shoe size 9.5
- 7-year-old: Boy's clothing size, shoe size 3.5
- 5-year-old: Boy's clothing size XS, shoe size 4.
- 3-year-old: Girl's clothing size 3T, shoe size 1 (toddler).
Educational Materials:
- Laptops or tablets for the children’s schoolwork.
- English language learning materials
Household Items:
- Cleaning supplies (vacuum cleaner, mop, broom).
- Bathroom supplies (towels, shower curtains, toiletries)
- Linens (sheets, pillowcases, blankets).
- Mattresses for kids