Editor’s note: The People’s Tribune’s Lisa King interviewed Tara Orlanda of Floyd Friends of Asylum Seekers in Virginia, about her group’s work.
“What motivated me is that I watched helplessly the news of the caravan heading towards our border from South and Central America. A friend had joined the caravan and was posting live streams of interactions between asylum seekers and locals along the way. It was beautiful to see how folks along the route would post signs such as, ‘We have a hammock in the back yard you can use to take a rest, or baskets of food left out that said ‘take what you need.’ It was inspiring to witness the love strangers were offering these desperate people.
“I met numerous asylum seekers in January. In February, I personally prepared home cooked hot meals for 84 asylum seekers. I started a Facebook group hoping to find other folks interested in assisting. Thirty + folks joined our group in the first couple of days. In March we served 204 asylum seekers. In April, 435, May, 492, June, 510, and July, 534. Our Floyd Friends of Asylum Seekers Facebook group has 356 members worldwide. It grows every day.
“Our vision is to create a safe, nurturing space for families of asylum seekers in Floyd County. We are extending a warm welcome to our South and Central American neighbors who are fleeing conflict, discrimination and unspeakable horrors. This is a labor of love and it has been a privilege and an honor to be part of the solution. It is truly heart warming to know there are so many in our community who are interested in giving a helping hand to our southern neighbors.”
An eye-opening, realignment of heart and mind: I received much more than I gave the few days I volunteered with Tara’s group. Much more valuable a priority for creating peace and international trust than drones, teargas, bombs, tariffs In the foreign policy that is yours the perpetuation of “the ugly American.”
God bless you, and thank you for your heart like Christ