Come, Meet & Support the Kurban Family

In February 2015, the Kurban Family arrived in Milwaukee to start a new life after fleeing their homeland of Myanmar (Burma) and living in a refugee camp for several years. While partnering with Catholic Charities, the St. Pius Community moved into ac)on to support them in countless ways. A huge number of parishioners generously donated furniture, household items, and clothing; some helped move furniture, clean and set up a flat for them, others welcomed them at the airport with warm clothing (they’d never experience this kind of cold!), and in May of 2015, the family visited Pius for the first time. There were lots of smiles, but communication was mostly through gestures.

Three years have passed and much has happened for the Kurban Family. In July of that year, their 4th child Nurbegum, a girl, was born. The older children – Abdul, Ali, Haliza – were enrolled in Milwaukee Parkside Elementary School. The school is a uniquely diverse community and they warmly welcomed the children, providing them with much more than an education. The kids speak English very well, are learning to read, and have become “Americanized” in so many ways – for better or worse. Dad has held down a job for several years now and Mom stays at home with Nurbegum. Mom and Dad still struggle with English and the children have become great translators!

A handful of parishioners have remained involved with the family and we’re excited to have them back at St. Pius to meet you all again. Please stop by Fellowship on February 25 because the family will be there, surely with their warm smiles and thank you’s for all we’ve done to support them.

Wish list for the Kurban Family

The Pius Community has always been overwhelming in their support, so, we’d like to ask for are 7/8 for Haliza and 4T for Nurbegum. If you have any gently used clothing that you’re willing to donate, please bring it to the back of church on February 18. We hope to sort it and give to them when they visit the next weekend.
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Warm clothing: hoodies, long sleeved shirts, long underwear, snow mittens, warm socks and pants. Boys sizes are 7/8 slim (for Ali) and 8/10 slim (for Abdul). Girls sizes are 7/8 for Haliza and 4T for Nurbegum. If you have any gently used clothing that you’re willing to donate, please bring it to the back of church on February 18. We hope to sort it and give to them when they visit the next weekend.

Books: picture books, easy readers that you may be able to part with, school supplies (folders, washable markers, pencils) to replenish their supply. Please bring these to the back of church on February 18 as well.

Financial Support: We will also have a box for donations if you’d like to support the family in that way. Any money would not be given to the family directly, but would be used to help purchase school uniforms. Committee members have already purchased them for the children this year, but as they grow and the clothes wear out, this would be a way to continue our support.