By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Dick Rooker of Warsaw was moved by images of Afghan refugees in the news.

“I just knew I had to do something,” he said.

That led to his involvement with an upcoming meeting that will look at the potential of helping resettle some of those refugees in northeast Indiana.

That meeting will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center. The public is welcome to attend, and the meeting will last for about an hour.

The effort to help the refugees locally is being spearheaded by Rooker’s church, Valley Springs Fellowship of Warsaw, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Warsaw.

Speaking at the meeting will be Nicole Kurut of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. That organization has been chosen by the government to facilitate resettlement efforts in the area.

Rooker said estimates are that 75 people could come to the area and that they would be resettled in one of two ways.

The preferred method would be that refugees would be resettled in Fort Wayne and those in Kosciusko County would assist from a distance.

Rooker explained that’s preferred since Catholic Charities has an office in Fort Wayne and the city has more capabilities to assist the people.

If that’s the case, people in the Warsaw area can help refugees by giving financially to Catholic Charities, which may be done by clicking the link here.

They could also help by getting homes ready and mentoring the people when they get settled in.

However, as Rooker noted, Fort Wayne may not have housing for the people, so that may lead to them being resettled in the Warsaw area.

If that second option occurs, those in the area would assist more directly, said Rooker.

Sacred Heart’s Lisa Meadows is working to inform local leaders of the situation, said Rooker.

During the meeting, there will be time for audience members to ask questions. Doors will open at the center at 6:30 p.m.

Rooker said he hopes the event will “compel us to move as a community with the gracious hearts we have” in regard to helping the refugees.

“Warsaw has a wonderful and generous community and this is a way to put that generosity in action,” he said.

For more information, people can email [email protected].