The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has donated $5 million worth of aid to the nine federal refugee resettlement agencies in the U.S., according to the Deseret News.
The donation comprises $1.2 million in cash and $3.8 million in commodities to be used during 2018, and it marks the second straight year the church has made such a donation.
Each of the nine organizations will receive a different amount. Episcopal Migration Ministries, for example, received $50,000 in cash and $200,000 of in-kind donations.
“The support from the LDS church has allowed Episcopal Migration Ministries to grant support projects for housing and health issues focused on homelessness prevention and intensive services for refugee cases with medical needs,” the organization said in a statement. “We are thankful for LDS church leadership in support of refugee resettlement.”
The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, meanwhile, received $40,000 in cash and $160,000 in in-kind donations.
“With this gift, many refugee families will now have chairs and a proper table around which they can share a meal with one another,” said Mike Mitchell, associate vice president of HIAS’ U.S. programs, according to the Deseret News. “Many haven’t had such a blessing for years but thanks to the LDS Church, they now do.”
Another resettlement agency, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, received a total of $600,000 in cash and commodities. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services received $130,000 in cash and $520,000 in commodities.
The other five agencies that will receive donations from the Mormon Church include Church World Service, the Ethiopian Community Development Council, the International Rescue Committee, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and World Relief Corporation.
Together, the nine agencies are responsible for contracting with the State Department to resettle refugees who arrive in the United States.
The LDS church’s donations were made possible by members’ donations to the LDS Humanitarian Fund. The LDS church’s First Presidency wrote a letter to church members in October 2015 encouraging them to donate to the fund.
The LDS Humanitarian Fund has helped refugees in Europe and the Middle East, in addition to the United States.
Read more at http://mobile.wnd.com/2017/12/mormon-church-gives-5-million-to-help-resettle-refugees-in-u-s/#ydeStWiJ3yeDVOc5.99