NJ Church Raises Funds To Welcome Syrian Refugee Family
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A church in New Jersey voted unanimously to help sponsor a family of Syrian refugees who arrived in the United States earlier this week.
The Morrow Church Council, of Maplewood, made the decision on the same day Governor Chris Christie sent a letter to President Obama telling the president the New Jersey would not accept any more refugees into the state in wake of the terror attacks on Paris.
"We wanted to be a voice that would say 'no you are welcome and how can we make you feel welcome?'" Rev. Brad Motta, of Morrow Church, said.
The family landed at Kennedy Airport on Tuesday. The congregation has already amassed donations to help pay rent on an apartment for the Syrian family of five, not to mention an array of other assistance, CBS2's Steve Langford reported.
The family chose not to appear on camera for this story.
Sally Pillay, head of a group called First Friends, was at the airport as the family -- a husband, wife and three children, arrived from the Middle East.
"The husband said to me he feels as if he's dreaming and the wife was literally in tears," Pillay said.
Another Syrian refugee family of seven is expected to arrive in New Jersey next week, with an interfaith group made up of different congregations helping to prepare an apartment in Paterson to host the family.
Refugee Hussam al Roustom and his family arrived in New Jersey after an almost two-year journey from Syria earlier this year. They settled in Jersey City.
Earlier on Wednesday. Christie criticized Obama's approach on handling ISIS, calling it 'naive and gravely dangerous.'