You Gave a Family the Chance to Find a New Normal

Refugee children receive gifts through Catholic Charities' Share Your Blessings program.

With your help, Adnan and his family were able to escape civil war and the devastation of Hurricane Harvey to start a new life in Houston.

Adnan, his wife Huda and their eight children arrived in Houston in August 2017 – escaping civil war in Syria and years in a refugee camp. They had no idea that the rains pouring into their new hometown would create a different kind of chaos in their lives.

Thanks to you, Catholic Charities case managers picked them up at the airport and took them to their new apartment supplied with furnishings, food and necessities to orient them to their new life.

During the storm, the apartment complex began flooding. The family of 10 was evacuated to the United Methodist Church, where Catholic Charities volunteers had set up a temporary shelter. After five days, the family returned to their apartment very thankful to have a place to call home.

With your help, Adnan, a cab driver in Syria, received assistance finding a job from the Catholic Charities employment team at the Schultz Company. He is delighted to be busy and productive once again. The team also found Huda a job at a local restaurant.

Because of you, the children love Houston and are enjoying school and activities. Mohammad, the oldest at 11, enjoys American football, and their daughters love to dance and sing in school.

The family also received Christmas presents through Catholic Charities’ Share Your Blessings program, thanks to you.

“We are so grateful to Catholic Charities for all their help,” Adnan said. “We have a normal life again – something we haven’t had since the civil war in Syria came to our hometown in 2012. Thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to be happy, safe and working.”

Discover how Catholic Charities serves refugees in our community, and learn how you can help families like Adnan’s start a new life in our welcoming city.