An evening of fellowship

Saint Philip’s has sponsored the Ahmed family since they arrived in Tucson from Syria almost one year ago. Last Saturday, December 3, Saint Philip’s volunteers and parishioners enjoyed a dinner with the family to mark their almost one-year anniversary.

The younger children played together (communicating through art to bridge the language gap) and the Lutheran Social Services liaison, Edwin Andrade, became more acquainted with Saint Philip’s volunteers and parishioners.

The family consists of father (Aladdin), mother (Javen), their 14 year-old son (Ahmed), 13 year-old daughter (Lelav), and 9 year-old daughter (Rojhat). There is an older daughter in Kurdistan who is married with a child.

The Ahmed family has worked hard to adjust to life in Tucson. The children are enrolled in school, everyone is trying to learn English, and Aladdin has a part-time job.

There are constant challenges, however.

Chronic medical issues demand attention; parishioner Ann Wilbanks spends about 20 hours each week driving different family members to doctors’ appointments. Aladdin earns only minimum wage. He works hard but it’s a struggle to meet monthly expenses.

The Ahmed’s current lease expires at the end of this year and the landlord will not renew it. The Ahmeds will have to move out by December 31.

The family is looking for a two bedroom, one bath apartment that costs no more than $1,000.00 per month. The ideal location would be near Kolb and Broadway. This would allow the children to continue to use their school’s transport system.

If you know of an apartment or a sympathetic landlord, please email parishioner Jane Prescott-Smith at JanePrescottSmith@gmail.com. Thank you!

Saint Philip’s parishioner Jane Prescott-Smith with the Ahmed family in their apartment.* Photo: Saint Philip’s parishioner Ann Wilbanks