Our new Vermont neighbors arrive with very little in terms of belongings. Most of them were limited to what they could bring and so are in need of almost everything on the physical level including furnishings for an apartment, dishes and cooking tools and winter clothes.
Meanwhile, they come with a whole life of experiences, some of which we’ll never hear. They come with hope or at least a desire to establish themselves and make this their home.
Our new neighbors and friends need rides to school, shopping and medical appointments. They need help in navigating our medical system (which, even if you grew up here, can be challenging.). They need help with internet and phone systems. They need to learn how to drive and obtain a license and then, hopefully, buy a car.
They might need help making sense of the resettlement process and an orientation to their rights and responsibilities as new arrivals in Vermont. They need to be reassured, from time to time, that they are going to be able to make this new life work.
All of these things take time, energy and help from volunteers. It seems that the need for volunteers never flags and the efforts of volunteers cannot be underestimated.
Meanwhile, some of the people resettling really do not want much help at all. They prefer to take care of their own needs as much as humanly possible. And this is to be respected as well.
I continue to admire and stand in awe of what human beings are capable of in the most positive sense. My grandparents made similar sacrifices as they came across in the early 1900’s. I have new respect for what that must have felt like and the sacrifices and strength it took to resettle. I see examples of this regularly in our new neighbors.
This reflection was written by Marti Anderson, November 2024.
From Afar to Home: Vermont Journeys 