Pictures by Bre Allard and Bruce Willson
The Family Support Center in Lewiston
Fadumo
Courageous friend, Fadumo,
Left her homeland years ago,
Fled the fighting, ran to safety,
Sought a chance to raise a family.
Courageous friend, Fadumo,
Misses Somalia and mangos,
And her mom and sisters, they were close…
She fears for them, but can’t go home.
She builds a life here while she waits…
With Jama she works hard each day.
They’ve come so far, paid such a price
For little Yasir and Yusef to have a life.
And we are more alike than different,
We each have dreams for our children,
I’ve laughed, I’ve cried with Fadumo…
She taught me the world is full of friends
I want to know…
Like Fadumo.
Courageous friend, Fadumo.
© 2010 Jan Willson
New Friends
Our Lewiston center reflects the growing international community now enriching our city! We have been privileged to get to know new residents from Somalia, Congo, Iraq, Morocco, Brazil, Zambia, Sudan, Burundi, Djibouti, and Nigeria. Some of these courageous new friends are pictured here. Many are helping us operate the center. And some have become like family to us.
LA Café
A highlight of the summer was the bi-monthly LA Café coffeehouse nights, which drew many local youth and families. Deb Marron oversaw the free thrift store, which was also open on those nights. Plans are to again operate the café in the spring/summer of 2011. It met a need in our downtown community for a fun place to gather with other neighbors, make new friends, and enjoy local talent representing the diversity of people groups in our area. Contact us to get involved with the LA Café in the future… we need local talent, and workers!
Back-to-School Fair
In August we provided about 70 area families with back packs, school supplies, and school clothing, thanks to contributions from the Dollar Tree in Auburn, Wal-Mart in Oxford, and generous area individuals. Many different workers helped the event to succeed, including Selina Willson and kids, Lilly, Emily, Zaki, and Olivia.
Family Support Center
In June we changed our name to reflect our growing work with both moms and dads, and even added a rack of men’s clothing to our thrift store. It’s resulted in connecting us with more local dads, and enabled us to strengthen family units more effectively. Now dads as well as moms come weekly for support services.
We are still a pregnancy center, with lots of ongoing support for struggling families and support for life-giving options. Our summer program featured a baby shower with an international potluck, where gifts were presented to about 50 new moms. Area youth groups joined our volunteer summer staff to man the weekly Farmers Market, Playground Pals, parent classes, and thrift store. We continue to provide weekly assistance, usually on Wednesdays and by appointment, to about 60 parents a week. We so appreciate Lewiston's Mayor Larry Gilbert dropping by the center to encoursage us.
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