Member Dr. Stephanie Larson Is Working to Help Our Refugee Neighbors
Drawings made by the refugee children Larson works with at the 5th Lyceum School refugee housing and a redistribution center.
Senior Associate Member Dr. Stephanie Larson has spent much of this past year aiding the needs of the 5th Lyceum School refugee housing and a redistribution center in Exarchia, Athens. Larson got involved with the 5th school when it opened this past spring as the movement of refugees into Greece was at its peak. “It was one of the first shelters set up after the borders closed in central Athens, and it’s close to the School. And I thought that this was something that I could do outside of my academic work and taking care of my family.” explained Larson, “ So I just started going down with a group of ex-pat ladies and we were doing art with the kids there, and they were working out some of their experiences in the art. But then I thought: I have a lot of friends that have enough money, we all have enough money, and I should do something more than playing.” Larson posted a status on her Facebook asking for help, and donations began pouring in. She joined forces with friend and fellow ex-pat Alicia Stallings, a poet and writer who lives in Athens. Together they pool funds given by their friends, family, and the local St Andrews Episcopalian Church in Larson’s home in Lewisburg, PA. “With whatever money I have I buy food usually,” said Larson. “Sometimes I buy formula, diapers. Heaters are now being requested because it’s getting cold out.” The needs of the shelter change week to week: sometimes Larson is asked to bring tea bags, olive oil, and lentils, and the next week the needs have shifted to salt and milk. With her own personal funds Larson has also adopted a family she met at the 5th school. They had been selected to move a charity apartment in a suburb of Athens, because of mother was pregnant with their sixth child. About once every week or ten days, Larson brings this family fresh vegetables and fruits from the local markets and lately baby items, including a "baby box," given for free by Allied Aid. I also try to spoil them every once in a while” admitted Larson, “I bring them candy, I bring them chocolate. And I bring my kids every now and then and we play soccer.” Dr. Stephanie Larson and Dr. Dylan Rogers with the results of the 2016 donation drive for the 5th Lyceum School refugee housing and a redistribution center. "“I think about it this way—you can provide a little bit for some people. And that’s great and everyone should do that. But you can also provide more for one, or more for five. And to me that’s worth it.” Larson said, “And how do you pick? You don’t really pick, it just happens. I think if I were in that situation I would kind of want one person to just take care of me too.” The family had been waiting in Athens for their sixth child to be born before their relocation to France could take effect. In the interim they could not work, and the children could not attend school. But the baby was born on November 28th, and the family is likely to be relocated in the coming weeks.  “I had the pleasure of visiting the hospital where the mother gave birth to the baby. I was very lucky to have been there on that day, since the hospital decided that they needed the bed for someone else, and so I was able to help the family with the (appropriately Byzantine) paperwork and I was also able to buy the mother the vitamin drops for the baby requested by the hospital.” Larson commented, “Having had my own children in the luxurious Danville Geisinger medical center and in my own room with my own private bathroom, I was shocked by the idea of sharing a maternity room with 10 other women. The conditions were not great.  The floors were relatively dirty, and although I was there visiting for two hours before we learned that she was being forced to leave, no nurse checked on her a single time.” "I just started going down with a group of ex-pat ladies and we were doing art with the kids there, and they were working out some of their experiences in the art." Larson also helps address ad hoc issues with other volunteers when needs arise for emergency housing or food. This takes many forms: one day Larson helped one woman living in the Orange House shelter sell her handmade jewelry at American Community Schools Holiday Bazaar, another she helped a single mother with four children find emergency housing. “I do those kinds of problem solving when I can,” explained Larson. “And it takes a lot of time as I’m trying to do scholarship and take care of my family, it takes a lot more time than I thought.” This holiday season with the help of Assistant Director Dylan Rogers and Research Archivist Leda Costaki Larson was able to run a food and money drive for refugee aid here at the ASCSA. With the support of our members last week she was able to deliver 262 diapers, 984 baby wipes, 844 tissues, 4.3 k of baby formula, 9.5 k of condensed milk, 3 k of tuna fish, and €1.070 to the 5th school. “At the end of the year we move back to the U.S., and then our lives will change,” stated Larson. “But I will keep raising money and sending it over, I think that’s the most useful thing I can do.” If you would like to donate to Dr. Larson’s efforts email her at slarson@bucknell.edu. Also, our Social Media Manager, Moira Lavelle, is working with LBGTQI+ Refugees Welcome, which is raising funds through their website to help LGBTQI+ refugees here in Athens. All funds donated go directly towards food, clothing, and legal documents. You can contact Moira directly with any questions (Moira.Lavelle@ascsa.edu.gr).