As part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s initiative entitled, “God’s Work. Our Hands,” New Journey Lutheran Church packed welcome bags for refugees arriving in Phoenix on Sunday, Sept. 10. The event marked the tenth anniversary of this Evangelical Lutheran Church in America tradition.

During the event, New Journey collaborated with Northeast Valley Consortium church partners (Ascension, Christ the Lord, Living Water and New Covenant ELCA congregations), which packed over 200 “celebration” bags for Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) for its refugee and immigration services, children and family, aging and disability and emergency services programs.

New Journey’s welcome bags included water bottles, portable prayer mats for those of Muslim faith, school supplies for children, chocolates, a handwritten welcome card and other small items. Some bags included birthday celebration and other special events supplies that those in need may not have resources to enjoy, a press release said.

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, with programs in Phoenix and Tucson, is one of several resettlement agencies that has helped to welcome more than 4,300 refugees to Arizona so far this year, the release said. The top countries of origin are Cuba, the Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Myanmar.

Another local agency, 100Angels.org, reported that before refugees are released to local shelters, these thousands of people, “are exposed to extreme environmental conditions, poor nutrition, exhaustion, and other factors . . . often stripped of their personal belongings by the time they are released,” the release said.

Support from Arizona’s constellation of resettlement programs, including LSS-SW, provides essential services for the first 30-90 days new refugees need to set a foundation for self-sufficiency, good health, employment and educational opportunities, the release said.