Niraj Warikoo

Detroit Free Press

Samir Al-Rachdan has been in the U.S. for only about four months, but already, the Syrian refugee feels at home. Compared with what he experienced in Syria and in a refugee camp in Jordan for four years, he finds Americans to be a welcoming people.

"Over here, I feel my humanity has been given back to me," Al-Rachdan, 55, of Hamtramck, told the Free Press. "People are treating me as a human. They recognize that I am a person. They will smile at me when I’m here. They’ve given me a welcome. They’ve given me freedom. They’re treating me as a human being with rights. I am so grateful to this great country for welcoming us."

Now Al-Rachdan wants to give back.

Through a program with the Syrian American Rescue Network, he and other Syrian refugees in metro Detroit are volunteering at local churches to help the poor and local congregations.

Last month, they served brunch to the needy at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills. This week, they were at Renaissance Vineyard Church in Ferndale cooking, cleaning, and setting up a temporary homeless shelter in the church's basement. Next month, they plan to visit a senior citizens' home around Valentine's Day to give roses and chocolate to the elderly.

"It’s very important for us to stand side-by-side, work hand-in-hand as Syrian refugees with the American people, to be able to do something positive for this great country," said Al-Rachdan's wife, Entesar Al-Rachdan, 53. "Unfortunately, we are not able to contribute with money, but we are able to contribute with our time. Anything that we can do to give back, that’s where we’re going to find ourselves doing in the future."

The programs are a way to promote understanding between the refugees and metro Detroiters at a time when Syrian refugees are demonized by some as security threats. Organizers developed the programs as a way to respond to the angry rhetoric by some politicians who try to link the refugees to terrorism. They also include a social media component, with the refugees posting photos of themselves on Thanksgiving Day and New Year's with friendly greetings.

Syrian refugee family arrives in metro Detroit

Reem Akkad, a volunteer with the Syrian American Rescue Network who translated for the refugees, said the programs were started "after hearing the accusations and stereotyping that’s been going on against the refugees ... they want to get out there and meet these people so they can get to know them. ...They also wanted to just give back."

Shannyn Caldwell, a volunteer with the network who's a morning host on Family Life Radio, said the outreach "makes our community a stronger, kinder place. It introduces people directly to the kind hearts of the Syrian people."

Michigan has taken in about 200 Syrian refugees, one of the highest of all states in the U.S. But a backlash was sparked after Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder called in November for a temporarily halt for security reasons, prompting other politicians across the U.S. to call for similar restrictions.

"We want to show how love can be greater than fear," said Jim Pool, lead pastor of Renaissance Vineyard Church, where the refugees volunteered on Tuesday. "Hospitality is very important to us. ... refugees fit in that sense of wanting to be a welcoming community of people, to express love and welcome to those who are new and are trying to find a home. We want to work arm in arm with them, cooperating ... to be loving neighbors."

Faces of refugees show the struggle to resettle in America

The Al-Rachdans said they and others suffered a lot in Syria and in Jordan, witnessing horrific violence by the state against friends, family and neighbors. The parents of 13 children said they fled out of fear after the 9-year-old son of a friend was shot dead in 2012. Seven of the Al-Rachdans' kids live with them in Hamtramck.

The Muslim couple hopes that Americans can better understand that refugees like them are not threats.

"I was very saddened to hear what we were being accused of being," Samir said through a translator. "I implore everyone before making those kinds of judgments to get out there and meet some Syrians, meet some refugees and get to know us and know who we really are. The Syrian people have never been terrorists. The people who are terrorists are people who are hijacking our identity and claiming to act on our behalf, but those never belonged to us. ... We ask everybody to just come and meet us and get to know us before they make those claims."

Anis Hamad, 25, was a baker in Syria and is using his culinary skills to help: On Christmas Day, he made cookies at Christ Church Cranbrook and also washed dishes. Hamad arrived in the U.S. last month from a refugee camp in Jordan, an experience he called "torture."

He said that giving back is "human nature. It's part of what us as Syrians were taught to do. If somebody needs help, we help as much as we can with anything that we are able to do."

Contact Niraj Warikoo: 313-223-4792 or nwarikoo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nwarikoo