Our Story:
SHConnections is powered by volunteers and community
Our story began early in January 2017, when SHConnections founder, Merritt Groeschel received a phone call asking her to assist a couple of Syrian refugee families in suburban Maryland. These families, and others like them, were resettled in small clusters allowing them to learn from one another, but many were struggling to learn English fast enough to get a job. When added to the language barriers, it was clear that navigating a new system of government, schooling, healthcare and social services could easily become overwhelming.
In the prior year, Merritt had helped sponsor a Syrian refugee family through her Church. Church-members, friends and neighbors from all different backgrounds had pitched in together to provide the family with a warm welcome and support. You can watch an award-winning documentary about that Syrian family’s resettlement journey here. Through this experience, Merritt knew that friendship and community involvement could ease the transition for new families.
Very quickly a small group of volunteers, recruited from networks of neighbors, friends, schools, and closeby churches and temples, mobilized to help the Syrian families. Soon, with the news of this group spreading by word of mouth, more refugees from Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, also reached out for help. In May 2017, Solutions in Hometown Connections (SHConnections.org) was formally launched as a volunteer led and run organization.
In the prior year, Merritt had helped sponsor a Syrian refugee family through her Church. Church-members, friends and neighbors from all different backgrounds had pitched in together to provide the family with a warm welcome and support. You can watch an award-winning documentary about that Syrian family’s resettlement journey here. Through this experience, Merritt knew that friendship and community involvement could ease the transition for new families.
Very quickly a small group of volunteers, recruited from networks of neighbors, friends, schools, and closeby churches and temples, mobilized to help the Syrian families. Soon, with the news of this group spreading by word of mouth, more refugees from Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, also reached out for help. In May 2017, Solutions in Hometown Connections (SHConnections.org) was formally launched as a volunteer led and run organization.
