THE LIGHTHOUSE: Helping Asylum Seekers Find Safe Harbor—Fundraiser Tuesday, October 23rd @ All Saints Church in Hoboken

As wave after wave of social crises vie for attention in the international spotlight, the plight of asylum seekers here in the United States remains in the forefront for those at The Lighthouse.

Currently located in the Bergen-Lafayette section of Jersey City, The Lighthouse is a partnership between Church of the Incarnation  and First Friends of NY and NJ , whose mission is to uphold the inherent dignity and humanity of detained immigrants and asylum seekers by providing compassion and hope through volunteer visitation, resettlement assistance and advocacy.

Before arriving at the Lighthouse, guests have spent upwards of six months to more than a year languishing in detention—even though they have never committed a crime.

The Lighthouse provides temporary housing for post-release individuals who were forced to flee persecution in their home countries due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, and who have been released from one of four correctional facilities in NJ.

The vision was conceived during a night of lost sleep. Jill Singleton, Head of All Saints Day School in Hoboken and Rev. Deacon of Church of the Incarnation, visited an asylum seeker detained in the Hudson County Correctional Center who had lamented that when released from detention, he had nowhere to go. “I asked him where he was going to go and he said ‘I don’t know.’ He didn’t know another living soul in this country,” Jill says. Tormented by his story, that night she conceived of The Lighthouse, a warm and welcoming transitional home for asylees recently released from detention.

Thanks to volunteer efforts, more than 75 people from 22 different countries have found refuge at the Lighthouse since March of 2017.

The generosity of donors makes it possible for the Lighthouse to provide guests with cell phones, internet access, food, clothing, transportation, language classes, eyeglasses, toiletries, and much more. The facility has housed guests as young as 18 months, and as old as 55.

In coming months, The Lighthouse will be moving to Union City and is need of funding to fulfill its mission. On Tuesday, October 23 at 6:30-8:30, a fundraiser is scheduled at All Saints Church on 7th and Washington Street to support the Lighthouse in reaching its goal.

The event will feature live music from James Calleo (who just released a phenomenal new single, “Thunderstorm”), as well as cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets are $50 dollars—CLICK HERE to purchase…

When purchasing tickets, please RSVP in the note. Donations are happily accepted as well.

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