baby groups make assimilation a
smoother process.
city last year alone, a small-scale
furniture project was ramped up to
meet the demand for furnishings
for the new homes of refugees.
Funds from SAWSO made possible
the creation of a new thrift store in
Leipzig to store household wares,
clothing, toys, electronics and
furniture. Salvation Army officer
Major Mark Backhaus, who
oversees services in the region,
says that approximately 60 new
clients monthly are registered
with the facility and set up with
furnishing for their apartments.
"You should see the joy in their
eyes and hear their happiness,"
Backhaus remarks. "We are
blessed with this extraordinary
possibility to serve and to experi-
people from other cultures."
tion Army--has provided logistics
support for the furniture program.
engagement this project would not
have been realized. What a privilege
to see God in action," Backhaus says.
asylum seekers since May 2015,
providing accommodation and food
along with medical and legal
support in the process of gaining
refugee status. An empty facility at
Atena Lucana can receive up to 50
asylum seekers. The first 25 people
from Nigeria arrived in November.
into their new communities. "We
hope to build relationships with the
townspeople and find small jobs for
our guests," says Lt. Colonel Mas-
simo Tursi of the Salvation Army
Italy and Greece Command. "They
have received name tags listing
their professional skills in the hope
that the people in town will eventu-
ally ask for their help."