In 2020, after attending a Texas Border Sponsorship Forum, Bethesda and Immanuel churches were moved to try to sponsor an asylum-seeking family in our community. We formed the Lake Superior Bridge Builders, which quickly grew to include other community members.  By October of the same year, we had helped a Russian family of four (now five!) move to Bayfield, secured funding from local sources as well as a grant from AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation, and Opportunities), and ultimately created a spacious apartment in Bethesda's basement to house the family.

 

After a little over three years, the family is now living on their own, and their eldest son has graduated from high school.  Although their court case has not yet been settled, money has been set aside in escrow to help with future court costs, and LSBB is beginning to prepare to help a new family by raising funds and refurnishing the basement apartment (as with other resettlement projects the family were welcomed to take the apartments furniture with them to their new housing).

LSBB has reached out to Global Refuge's Circle of Welcome program to become a co-partner in refugee resettlement. 

 

LSBB will be meeting irregularly (on Tuesday evenings) until we get word on a new family. If you would like to join us, please contact Pastor Connie or Diane Fizell.

 Checks can be mailed to:

Bethesda Lutheran Church
PO Box 724
Bayfield, WI 54814
(Note LSBB on the Check)