Refugees deserve our respect and assistance

I recently attended a potluck picnic for volunteer tutors and students of the Catherine McAuley Center. It was a heartwarming sight.

Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, along with our adult students and their families, shared food, conversation and music.

Volunteering at the McAuley Center is a rewarding experience as students work very hard to master the English language. They recognize it will help them in employment, in life situations and in assisting their children in school. Many have left homelands where violence, war and poverty threaten their existence. They express their appreciation for an opportunity to learn.

At a time when many refugees are being unduly maligned by our administration, we need to recognize refugees deserve respect and a helping hand.

Brenda Carlson

Cedar Rapids