Refugee: someone who flees their country because of persecution, war, or violence.
We first learned of local nonprofit organization Project Worthmore through our friends at Campus Lounge. It is their organization of choice when it comes to any of their fundraising efforts, so we decided to take a closer look. Founded by Frank and Carolyn Anello, a couple who at the beginning “really had no idea what we were doing, but knew we wanted to help this community that lived just down the street from our home.” While not a faith-based organization, their desire to act in the service of others is what led them to start the organization.
Project Worthmore works to restore worth to our refugee neighbors through the heart of the community. Every family they serve has a unique story, a steadfast courage, and a resilience to survive and rebuild their lives here in Colorado. Started as a makeshift response to the unmet needs of refugee neighbors in 2009, they have grown to offer a variety of programs and services including English language classes, citizenship classes, a community-run food access program, a refugee training farm, a five-chair dental clinic, and access to Community Navigators and Family Partners. Here is a closer look at a few of their many programs and services.
Delaney Community Farm
Providing refugees access to farming, healthful food and community. This is a collaborative partnership between Denver Urban Gardens and Project Worthmore. It is a 5 acre training farm in Aurora that demonstrates small-scale, sustainable agricultural practices and connects refugees with training, employment and community.
English Language Program
Increasing comfort and fluency with English language to aid in integration. Classes are located in the heart of the refugee community. There are multiple classes a day at various locations, along with free babysitting to increase ease of access for their clients. Currently there are 418 students enrolled with close to 9500 hours completed.
Yu Meh Food Share
Increasing access to healthy, fresh food and is designed as a community-centered, culturally-relevant program. The food share program is resourced by local businesses, nonprofits, and community farms serving 476 families and has already distributed 72,760 lbs. of fresh produce.
Family Partners
Facilitating friendships, provide a sense of inclusion and inspire cross-cultural understanding. Volunteer and refugee families are paired with the hopes of developing meaningful relationships that aid in social bridging, a key factor in refugees becoming more integrated and self-sufficient.
Worthmore Clinic
Designed to reduce and eliminate oral disease that relates to poor systemic health including diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart disease, and low birth weight for infants. It offers restorative and preventative dental care. They serve as an accredited training facility for the University of CO dental program, Community College of Denver dental hygiene program, and Emily Griffith dental assistant program.
We asked PW about the myths surrounding refugees.
“Perhaps the most current and relevant myth is that refugees are here to harm us and that we should not let them into our country. The reality is this – refugees have enriched our lives more than I could have ever imagined.
We are all influenced by what we watch and hear, but it’s pretty simple to stop fearing and start loving. Refugees are here for a better life, and it’s absurd to think someone would flee their home country to wait an average of 17 years in a refugee camp to come and do harm to others in our country.
They just want to be welcomed and loved the same as we would if we were in their situation. “We can choose to stop closing our curtains and garage doors and building privacy fences and reach out and be a good neighbor. That kind of a world is far more appealing to me.” We couldn’t agree more. Thank you for letting us share your story. If you’d like to get involved, visit www.projectworthmore.org for more details.