Do you have a car to sell?

Exciting news! Our friends from Afghanistan are doing well, and Dad is ready to take his road test to get a Michigan driver's license! The large family is looking for a used van in good shape, preferably with three rows of seating, to purchase at a good price. If anyone has a lead on van, please contact the church office at (269) 327-6643 or email office@pchum.org.

Drivers and Childcare Needed!

Portage Chapel Hill's Refugee Resettlement Team is in need of a few more people who would be willing to help with driving and childcare for the Afghan refugee family that is currently being assisted by the church. Drivers are needed to help the family as they run errands, go to appointments, or to get to and from their job. Occasional childcare is also needed. If you are able to help, even if you are unable to make a regular commitment, please contact Refugee Resettlement Team co-chairs Joelle Ibanes at jdibanes@gmail.com or Carolyn Pesheck at cvpesheck@sbcglobal.net.

Refugee Family Update 

Portage Chapel Hill Church and Bethany Christian Services partnered late last year to welcome and settle a family of seven who fled Afghanistan in August 2021 to the Kalamazoo area. The family consists of a mother and father and five girls ranging in age from 8 years to a few months old. They have moved into a rented house, the father is working, and the two oldest girls are in a special classroom at school that’s concentrating on teaching English to those students who know virtually none. They’re also getting tutoring at home from one of Chapel Hill’s Refugee Resettlement Team volunteers. Mom is staying home with the youngest three girls; the middle daughter is enrolled in preschool 3 days per week. Mom and Dad are attending English classes twice a week, plus getting tutoring by several volunteers. They seem quite well settled into life in the U.S.  

The family says they feel well taken care of, and really appreciate everything that’s being done to help them settle into their new home.

If you are able and would like to make a financial contribution to Chapel Hill’s Refugee Resettlement fund, please CLICK HERE. 

Please direct any questions you have to the co-chairs of the Refugee Resettlement Team, Carolyn Pesheck (cvpesheck@sbcglobal.net) or Joelle Ibanes (jdibanes@gmail.com).