The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset has given $325,000 total in grants to three faith-based organizations that provide resettlement services to Humanitarian Parolees from Afghanistan and Ukraine.

A grant of $200,000 has been allocated to Catholic Charities of Long Island, $75,000 to the Community Synagogue for the project Upholding Humanity and $50,000 to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph for the project Long Island Immigration Clinic.

The grants were recommended by a three-member committee called the Shelter Rock’s Ad Hoc Crisis Grants Task Force, which was formed last year to assist those in crisis. Although the effort was put together last year, the church has donated in the past during moments of catastrophe such as the Haitian earthquake of 2010.

Chris Hilke, president of the Shelter Rock congregation, said conversations in the task force led to the decision to help the refugees affected by the war in Ukraine.

“We set up the crisis grant program a few years ago as a way for the congregation to address urgent needs and issues that are not addressed by other philanthropic programs that are here at the congregation,” she said.

Money was set aside from an already established fund the church had and each year it has a certain amount that can be given should the need arise.

“The congregation decided a few years ago that we wanted as a congregation to be able to move swiftly when there’s an urgency,” Hilke said.  She pointed out that members have been affected emotionally by the war in Ukraine.

Coalition member organizations each provide financial and in-kind contributions to the project, which has one paid staff person. They include Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, which is represented by Social Justice Coordinator Claire Deroche; the Islamic Center of Long Island; UJA Federation of New York; American Jewish Committee of Long Island; Temple Sinai, which serves as Upholding Humanity’s 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor; Community Synagogue of Port Washington; and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cold Spring Harbor.

One grant recipient, the Catholic Charities of Long Island or CCLI, has a Refugee Resettlement Program for those who arrive on Long Island fleeing war, natural disaster, human trafficking and persecution in their countries of origin. CCLI is currently serving refugees classified as Humanitarian Parolees from Afghanistan and the Ukraine.

The second grant recipient, Upholding Humanity, is a coalition of organizations that support the resettlement of Humanitarian Parolees from Afghanistan and the Ukraine on Long Island. They are currently in the process of resettling six Afghan families and three Ukrainian families locally.

Lastly, the Long Island Immigration Clinic was the final grant awardee. Founded in 2021, the LIIC works to provide legal support and resettlement services to undocumented immigrants in Nassau and Suffolk counties. It is located in Brentwood on the campus of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. LIIC is currently assisting six Ukraine and Afghan families who are classified as Humanitarian Parolees.