ECDC
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — It’s been one year since the first refugees were resettled in the Wausau area.
Eric Yonke of the ECDC Multicultural Community Center says nearly 160 families have been brought to Central Wisconsin, and all of them are contributing to the community. “The heads of household are all working full-time jobs. We’ve gotten great support from Great Lakes cheese, Merrill Steel, and Aspirus. So they are all supporting their families now and working full-time.”
Yonke and others with the ECDC MCC plan to honor those families and the volunteers who are helping them to get acquainted with Central Wisconsin with a special program Thursday. It begins at the Jefferson Street Inn at 5:30. Younke says that will feature a short video on what the last year has been like for the refugees and a special recognition for donors and volunteers. The event continues at the Multicultural Community Center office on North 3rd Street where they’ll serve refreshments and have a meet and greet until 8 PM.
The refugee resettlement program is going to continue. Yonke says they plan to receive as many as 175 families in the region annually. They’ll be placed between Wausau, Stevens Point, and Marshfield. The group will continue to accept donations of personal care items, clothing, and home furnishings to help get the refugees on their feet.
The initial wave of refugees came from Afghanistan, some of whom helped US and allied forces during the war against the Taliban. Since then families from Syria, Burundi, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have also been placed in the region.
Comments