‘Ambassadors of Christ’

Eighth-grader Leah Frazee can only imagine how it would feel to move to a new country after fleeing the only home she ever knew.

“It would be really scary to come into a country with nothing,” Frazee said as she prepared to help move bags of toiletries, diapers, baby strollers, clothes, coats and toys destined for Afghan refugees. “That’s why we all wanted to help – so they could feel as safe as possible.”

Frazee, her fellow students and staff at Saint Rose of Lima School, Haddon Heights, have spent the past two weeks collecting items for the Afghans being housed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Burlington County. The morning of Oct. 22, they welcomed members of the New Jersey State Police, who ended up filling three vans with more than 200 donations.

“They’ve been through so much, and having toys will help the younger refugees experience their childhood more and give them some comfort,” she said.

Saint Rose of Lima School and the N.J. State Police – which have a history of working together on service projects – collaborated on the donation campaign in recognition of each celebrating their 100th anniversaries.

“Catholicism speaks to the fact that we are to be ambassadors of Christ,” said Deacon Joseph Rafferty, school principal. Quoting from a popular maxim, he said, “Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary use words.” Empowering the kids to help out the Afghan refugees was right in that wheelhouse.”

While most of the students carrying the collected items from the school to the parking lot were from the higher grades, Deacon Rafferty reflected on the day before, seeing first-graders help corral the items onto the school’s stage.

“The gleam in their eyes and smile on their faces … that attributes, to me, that somewhere at Fort Dix little kids are going to receive these items and get their own smiles. So in a way, we’re transferring love,” he said.

Members of the N.J. State Police said they could attest to the fact that the donations would be well-received.

“This is directly going to impact them – not just from a physical standpoint but from a mental one as well,” said Detective Sgt. First Class Jason Payman. “They’ve struggled and been traveling through various countries to arrive here in the United States, so they are very uncertain about their future. The fact that this overwhelming number of supplies are being given to them by the community at large is huge.”

Payman, who was born in Afghanistan and spent the first five years of his life there, has been working with the Afghan people sheltered on the military post since they arrived two months ago. Tens of thousands have fled their native homeland since August, seeking refuge from Taliban rule in the United States and elsewhere. 

“A lot of these individuals assisted not only the United States, but our military abroad for many years,” said Payman, who has served in law enforcement for 20 years. “They showed up literally with the clothes on their back. This [donation drive] is our way of asking the community to assist us in greeting them and welcoming them to the United States.”

Eighth-grader Chase Haas sees that outreach as part of his Christian duty. “Being of the Catholic faith, we believe in helping people and bringing happiness around the world.”

Frazee, who serves on the Student Council, agreed, saying, “God wants us to help people and give to those who are in need.” 

Detective II Mudduser Malik said he and others with the State Police make it a point to explain to the Afghans who gave the donations, whether they came from community organizations or the Muslim, Jewish, Catholic or Protestant faiths.

“We explain to the residents that this is the community they will be coming into, one that is welcoming, and how we want them to engage this community when they leave [the military base],” he said. “That shows our guests that we are trying to help them be part of the fabric that sews this wonderful country together.”

Payman agreed. “Ultimately the goal is to have them start their lives.”

Fran Watson, the school’s advancement director, says the donation initiative helps bring to life social justice lessons taught in the classrooms. For example, most of the seventh- and eighth-graders read a book called “Refugee” by Alan Gratz, which tells the story of three teenage refugees, with each tale set in a different time period.

“This project has been very timely. It shows this issue is not just a story in a book. It’s tangible,” Watson said.

Alyson Gush, a parent in Saint Rose of Lima and business administrator with the N.J. State Police, said there are plans for the officers to return to the school to report back on how the donations helped the Afghan families – something the students are looking forward to.

Said Haas, “I wanted to help so the refugees could start a new life and not have to constantly live in fear.”