With the youngest of their six children heading to college, Sean Kavanagh and Donna Vaillancourt were about to become empty-nesters last August when Kavanagh suffered a near fatal bicycle accident requiring a two-month hospitalization.
Inspired by their new perspective and appreciation for life, the couple are giving back by welcoming a family of Syrian refugees into their home and raising awareness of a fund-raising campaign to help them find a permanent residence.
Vaillancourt learned about the seven-member Alloh family on Feb. 10 through a
Facebook post by fellow Carlisle resident Jennifer Silverstone, co-founder and president of the nonprofit Eyes on Refugees. The decision to intervene was easy, Vaillancourt and Kavanagh agreed, given the family’s war-induced trauma, four-year odyssey in a refugee camp in Jordan, and the squalid conditions of their apartment in Lowell.
“I’m not only lucky to be alive, but I can still run my company and come home to my wonderful wife at our nice home in the suburbs,” Kavanagh said. “Meanwhile, this family is so much less fortunate, all because of where they were born. We wanted to help make a difference, in whatever way we could.”
On Feb. 12, the couple welcomed Mohammad and Heba Alloh and their children — Eman, 13; Anas, 11; Jaber, 7; Sidra, 4; and Baraa, 2 — into the three-room in-law apartment within their home.
“I’ve been so disturbed by the broad brush that has painted all Muslims as terrorists, but this community has been enormously welcoming,” said Vaillancourt, a nurse and former Peace Corps volunteer. “They finally feel safe, which is why we’d like to keep them here with no more disruptions.”
To date, 288 supporters have raised $39,445 for “Dignified Housing for the Allohs” at plumfund.com. The goal, Vaillancourt said, is to find affordable housing large enough for the family to be comfortable, preferably in Carlisle so the children can stay in the public schools in which they are thriving.
Kavanagh, proudly noting that Eman aspires to become a doctor, has an additional request.
“I want to be at every one of these kids’ college graduations,” he said.
Cindy Cantrell may be reached at cindycantrell20@gmail.com.