North Hills Refugee Ministry Update — August 2025

The North Hills Refugee Ministry is comprised of members from three area Lutheran churches:  Perry Highway, Trinity, and St. John’s of Highland.  Our mission, in conjunction with Jewish Family and Community Services, is to welcome the stranger, as Jesus invites us to do in Matthew 25: 31-46.   For most Christians, this command of Jesus is not debatable, although the way that Jesus tells his followers about the day of judgment sets up a dramatic contrast between those who follow Jesus’ teaching and those who do not feed the hungry and thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner, and welcome the stranger.  It is a daunting vision that Jesus presents to us because the challenges to do these acts of mercy can often be threatening and difficult.

Our first year of refugee ministry was challenging and transforming for us and the refugee family we sponsored from Syria.  Thanks to your support and the generosity of all three congregations involved, we were able to successfully transition a family of six persons as they became accustomed to a different way of life in a new country.  The adult males in the family are employed, and the family is self-sustaining.  All members of this family faced difficult medical and dental hurdles that we have shepherded them through.  They are happy to be independent.

In contrast, 2025 was a year of reckoning for our ministry.  With the President’s order to stem the tide of immigration to the U.S. and to create a climate of fear in the lives of many refugees, our ministry has faced new challenges as we continue to serve the refugee community in Pittsburgh.   We are a nation built on the talents of refugees, and we continue to watch our sponsored families contribute to building and constructively participating in community life in Pittsburgh.

2025 UPDATE

Jewish Family and Community Services reached out to our ministry to provide furniture for the following families:

  • We provided 3 twin beds, 3 mattresses, sheets and pillowcases for each bed, mattress protectors and pillows for a refugee family in McKees Rocks; Many thanks to Ron Baling and Chris and Tony Ruffalo for going to the home and assembling these bed. The family had been in residence for months and were sleeping on the floor of their apartment.
  • Our ministry provided a big dining room table and chairs for a large refugee family in Bloomfield. Thank you to Ron Baling and Jane Hein for transporting this furniture to them.  We understand that the family was delighted at the prospect of being able to sit at a table and share a meal together.
  • Bill Ayoub and Jane Hein coordinated furniture delivery to a refugee family in Carnegie. Dressers, end tables, chairs and lamps.  Our settled refugees from Syria and the Congo assisted us in this move.
  • Most recently, Bill Ayoub, Janet and Ron Montelaro, with two of our refugee friends, made a large furniture delivery to a refugee family from Turkey. The family is living in Coraopolis.  3 Dressers, 3 beds, mattresses and bedding, sofa, two chairs, lamps, and a coffee table were delivered with the help of our refugee friends from Syria and Congo.  Again, the family had been sleeping on the floor.

During March, Jewish Family and Community services reached out to us to mentor a family who arrived in Pittsburgh at the end of 2024.  The family consists of two elderly parents, an adult mother and her child.  Mentorship, as opposed to sponsorship, means that the family did not need a place to live as they were already in a residence.  Following are the accomplishments we have achieved to date with this family:

  • In July, Bob David and Janet Montelaro met the family with a representative from JFCS. The mother wishes to learn English, so that she can assist her father more easily with his medical needs.
  • Bob David and Janet Montelaro made a second visit delivering toys for the child. Bob purchased a laptop computer and programmed it for the mother.  He spent over an hour teaching her how to navigate through the different apps.  Bob also provided a card table and 4 chairs to enable the mother to work on the laptop and to share meals with her family.
  • Janet Montelaro will be teaching English to the mother by Zoom and also in person. Jane Hein and Janet Montelaro are visiting the family again this week to assess other possible needs.
New Prospects in 2025

Sam Baling from St. John’s has brought to our attention the needs of a refugee family in West View.  One of the members of St. John’s thoughtfully asked us if we could do anything to help them.  The family is from Afghanistan and needs a larger apartment and assistance with transportation.  Our administrative team will be making attempts to meet with them and assess their needs.  We are thankful that this may be yet another opportunity to welcome the stranger in our midst!

What Can You Do to Help Us?
  • We are always in need of area rugs, lamps, and end tables. No beds are needed at this time.  We will also accept dressers and/or chests of drawers if they are not damaged.
  • We need MUSCLE! If you are in good shape and would like to be on our volunteer list to help move furniture, we would love to hear from you!
  • If you have a pickup truck or van for moving small items of furniture, we would appreciate that as well! To offer your help, please contact Jane Hein (412) 818-9621 or Janet Montelaro at (412) 400-8822.

THANK YOU for your prayers, donations, and support!