An open house is planned for this Sunday at St. Joseph Church for the community to meet the individuals who now live in Warren as part of the Ukraine refugee resettlement program.

The event will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Meyer Hall.

Tom Pierotti, one of the key organizers of the effort, called this an “opportunity for the community to welcome our Ukrainian friends that are living here.”

There are currently seven refugees that have resettled in Warren.

He stressed there won’t be any formal program or speeches.

It’s a joint effort between First Lutheran and St. Joseph, where Father Rick Tomasone sponsored the first family.

Pierotti said they view it as important that the resettlement ministry be a collaborative effort.

“This is a wonderful way in which this congratulation and the Roman Catholic congregation can say ‘we’re sharing a ministry together’ and that’s a good thing.”

It will also be an opportunity to raise additional funds before they know that there are large expenses coming down the line as these families settle into life in this community.

“There’s going to be some big, expensive items like cars,” he said. “You can’t give in Northwest Pennsylvania without a vehicle and they don’t come with money to buy a car.”

Rent for one year was donated for these families as part of the resettlement process but organizers know that rent and utilities will be “a big bill that we’re going to have to pay.”

Pierotti encouraged anyone that wants to give something to the families at the open house to consider a card with a gift card.

“People are so wanting to give them things,” he said. “We’re allowed to give them things but they don’t need too many things.”

He noted, though, that cash to the fund set up to cover those looming, expensive costs “would be best,” explaining that both churches have a special fund setup for that purpose. “That’s the preferred way of helping.”

He said that another individual has stepped up to sponsor and an eighth refugee should be able to relocate in a couple weeks.

“The need is so big,” he said. “We need to do whatever we can to bring more people over.”