Mayor Katie Rosenberg welcoming refugees to Wausau at Central Wisconsin Airport. Image courtesy: Katie Rosenberg/Twitter
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The first Afghan refugee families arrived in Wausau two weeks ago, and now the city is asking for help from the community.
The Wausau Ethiopian Community Development Council says they’re looking for volunteers to form what they call co-sponsor teams to help the coming families of refugees.
They said that they need five to six teams of seven people. Each team member will take on a specific responsibility, such as education, or grocery shopping, in order to help the families adjust to life in Wausau. They said that the culture shock from moving to a country where things are so different can be difficult to manage, and can even be seen in the little things.
“What we’re finding out is that the typical bleached flour that we have is not similar to what they’re used to having, so it’s just those kinds of things they’re trying to navigate during their first days and weeks.” said Eric Yonke, Coordinator for the Co-Sponsor Program.
The teams will work with the families for about nine months, with about four or five families arriving each week over the next few months.
Anyone who wishes to help should call 715 907-7089.
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