Students help refugees prepare for cold weather

By Joseph Stenard, Guest Contributer

Nang Thant and Nang Soon know what it is like to be new to Upstate New York and are currently helping to give refugees a warm welcome through their Service Learning project.

The women are cousins and are both majoring in business administration at Hudson Valley and chose the service learning option as part of their macroeconomics course.

They have been volunteering at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in Albany and have become more aware of the needs and contributions of families from Burma, Iraq, Bhutan, Sudan, Congo and elsewhere.

The students are collecting warm blankets, coats, boots, hats and gloves to donate to those who come from parts of the world that do not see snow or experience harsh winters.

“Many of these families are coming here with little more than a dream, so they need everything,” said Thant. “We are looking to collect warm winter clothes but will also take furniture and kitchen items.”

Donations of new and gently used goods can be delivered to the USCRI Albany office at 991 Broadway, Suite 223. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.