Members of several Charlotte churches say they have seen a growing number of Myanmar immigrants who do not have enough to eat, and the churches are responding by offering free meals.
St. John's United Methodist Church on Monroe Road hosts free dinners for local refugees from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, in the Charlotte area every Wednesday and Saturday.
Providence United Methodist Church provides the hot meals and canned foods that are distributed at St. John's.
“There is a tremendous need in the community,” said Bob Breed, associate pastor of outreach at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, which also collects canned foods to be distributed at St. John's.
The Myanmar community has grown to approximately 300 families since last year, according to Thanei Taithio, a case worker at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which arranges for immigrants from Myanmar to come to the Charlotte area.
There's been an increase in refugees in the area because of severe persecution in Myanmar, said Jackie White, member of Methodist Mission of Cambodia.
“The government is taking over their land, taking over their homes…just all kinds of horrible things. Their lives are in danger. Thousands of Burmese people have to flee for their lives,” she said. “We've been taking in donations for clothing and different things they are in need of.”
“I feel like they are very happy to take the food,” said Taithio, who represents the Myanmar community at St. John's.
Oakhurst Elementary on Monroe Road had planned to provide free lunch for community members, but it was moved to St. John's and became an outreach program for the Myanmar refugee community, said White.
“…We were aware that a bunch of kids were going to be without food,” said Bill Jeffries, senior associate pastor at Providence.
Jeffries handed fliers out at Oakhurst, posted signs at Providence and worked with the congregation to collect canned foods.
Although it has not been decided whether the meals will continue throughout the school year, the free dinners at St. John's will go on until Aug. 22. With the upcoming school year about to start, free breakfast and lunch will be provided for the children.
“Just about everyone you meet here has a story,” said Jeffries.
“It gladdens our hearts to help them. They are some of the most appreciative people...they keep saying ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.'”
Susan Zual, 17, Beth Par, 16, Michael Sang, 4, and father Ngun Sang, 35, drive about 30 minutes from their home in Ballantyne for free dinners at St. John's.
According to Zual, the Myanmar government is very authoritarian. There are a lot of rapes and murders, “like in ‘Rambo,' ” Par said.
Although born in Myanmar, both girls spent most of their childhood in New Delhi, India.
In 2000, their family moved to the United States and has lived in Wisconsin, Maryland, and just recently Charlotte.
“It's a treat,” said Carol Shinn, coordinator of servant ministries at Providence. “I've heard thank yous in more languages in the past three months than I've ever heard. They are the most gracious group.”
Jason's Deli and Chipotle Mexican Grill have sponsored meals at St. John's. A couple of weeks ago, Chipotle provided 100 burritos.
“They ate every bite of it,” she said. “It's truly a community effort” with sponsors from restaurants, dry food donations from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and local help from the community.
White, whom Shinn describes as “a saint,” picks up Myanmar and Cambodian families from their homes and brings them to St. John's for the free dinners and to the grocery store to pick up food, Shinn said. There are several Cambodian families who attend the free dinners as well.
“It's a call of God, an assignment the Lord has given me,” said White. Almost every year for the past 12 years, White has traveled to the border of Myanmar and Thailand to work with the Hilltribe People, a group of different villages and tribes who migrate and farm together.
She teaches English and sewing to girls “so they don't get caught up in the sex trade and trafficking industry” and creates youth programs and seminars. “It's become very easy to do because of my love for the Asian people in my heart.”
Jeffries said “We're just going to do whatever we got to do. If everyone did a little bit, it makes a difference.”
St. John's United Methodist Church on Monroe Road hosts free dinners for local refugees from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, in the Charlotte area every Wednesday and Saturday.
Providence United Methodist Church provides the hot meals and canned foods that are distributed at St. John's.
“There is a tremendous need in the community,” said Bob Breed, associate pastor of outreach at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, which also collects canned foods to be distributed at St. John's.
The Myanmar community has grown to approximately 300 families since last year, according to Thanei Taithio, a case worker at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which arranges for immigrants from Myanmar to come to the Charlotte area.
There's been an increase in refugees in the area because of severe persecution in Myanmar, said Jackie White, member of Methodist Mission of Cambodia.
“The government is taking over their land, taking over their homes…just all kinds of horrible things. Their lives are in danger. Thousands of Burmese people have to flee for their lives,” she said. “We've been taking in donations for clothing and different things they are in need of.”
“I feel like they are very happy to take the food,” said Taithio, who represents the Myanmar community at St. John's.
Oakhurst Elementary on Monroe Road had planned to provide free lunch for community members, but it was moved to St. John's and became an outreach program for the Myanmar refugee community, said White.
“…We were aware that a bunch of kids were going to be without food,” said Bill Jeffries, senior associate pastor at Providence.
Jeffries handed fliers out at Oakhurst, posted signs at Providence and worked with the congregation to collect canned foods.
Although it has not been decided whether the meals will continue throughout the school year, the free dinners at St. John's will go on until Aug. 22. With the upcoming school year about to start, free breakfast and lunch will be provided for the children.
“Just about everyone you meet here has a story,” said Jeffries.
“It gladdens our hearts to help them. They are some of the most appreciative people...they keep saying ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.'”
Susan Zual, 17, Beth Par, 16, Michael Sang, 4, and father Ngun Sang, 35, drive about 30 minutes from their home in Ballantyne for free dinners at St. John's.
According to Zual, the Myanmar government is very authoritarian. There are a lot of rapes and murders, “like in ‘Rambo,' ” Par said.
Although born in Myanmar, both girls spent most of their childhood in New Delhi, India.
In 2000, their family moved to the United States and has lived in Wisconsin, Maryland, and just recently Charlotte.
“It's a treat,” said Carol Shinn, coordinator of servant ministries at Providence. “I've heard thank yous in more languages in the past three months than I've ever heard. They are the most gracious group.”
Jason's Deli and Chipotle Mexican Grill have sponsored meals at St. John's. A couple of weeks ago, Chipotle provided 100 burritos.
“They ate every bite of it,” she said. “It's truly a community effort” with sponsors from restaurants, dry food donations from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and local help from the community.
White, whom Shinn describes as “a saint,” picks up Myanmar and Cambodian families from their homes and brings them to St. John's for the free dinners and to the grocery store to pick up food, Shinn said. There are several Cambodian families who attend the free dinners as well.
“It's a call of God, an assignment the Lord has given me,” said White. Almost every year for the past 12 years, White has traveled to the border of Myanmar and Thailand to work with the Hilltribe People, a group of different villages and tribes who migrate and farm together.
She teaches English and sewing to girls “so they don't get caught up in the sex trade and trafficking industry” and creates youth programs and seminars. “It's become very easy to do because of my love for the Asian people in my heart.”
Jeffries said “We're just going to do whatever we got to do. If everyone did a little bit, it makes a difference.”
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