OLD LYME—UPDATED 1/28 with donation information and additional names in photo above: Old Lyme Resident State Trooper Matt Weber and his team of Old Lyme Police Department (OLPD) officers recently took time out of their busy schedules to visit with the recently-arrived Alkhalawi family, who are refugees from Syria.
The OLPD presented the family with a restaurant gift-card as a welcoming gesture to the Lyme-Old Lyme community. The family enjoyed the visit by the OLPD and were especially appreciative of the gift card.
The family is being assisted by the Lyme-Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee in a variety of ways.
After the visit, Howard Margules, who is a member of Refugee Resettlement Committee, shared an email with LymeLine that had been sent to both State Trooper Weber and Old Lyme First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker, which read as follows: “On behalf of the Lyme-Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee, I want to thank Resident Trooper Matt Weber and his team of officers for taking the time to visit with the Alkhalawi family, and for their kind offer of support.”
The email continued, “Mahmoud and Fadia were so pleased to have the opportunity to meet the officers, and it was very reassuring for them to know that people in authority care for them. They thank the officers for the restaurant gift card and I am sure the family will savor the meal.”
In conclusion, the email stated, “The visit was greatly appreciated!”
Editor’s Notes: i) For further information about the Lyme-Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee, visit this link.
ii) To donate online to the Lyme-Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee, visit this link on the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme website and select Refugee Resettlement in the dropdown Fund menu.
iii) To donate by mail to the Lyme-Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee, make your check payable to: First Congregational Church of Old Lyme with Refugee Resettlement Committee in the memo line. Mail to P.O. Box 172 Old Lyme, CT 06371