While the troubles in Kosovo may be thousands of miles away, Kosovar refugee relief is coming close to home this weekend.

The Ames International Group for Humanity will sponsor an Indian dinner and cultural entertainment event this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 W. Lincoln Way.

Proceeds from the dinner will be used to sponsor a Kosovar refugee family in the Ames area.

“Our goal is to raise funds to help sponsor one family, if not more than one in the Ames area,” said Kumari Riedman, program director for the International Group for Humanity.

Volunteers performing Turkish singing, Indian dances, fiddle players and country music will accompany the Indian dinner. Arts and crafts will be auctioned off, as well.

The programming was designed to be multicultural, said Augustus Lartius, president of the International Group for Humanity.

Former Gov. Robert Ray will be speaking about the Kosovar refugees and his experiences sponsoring refugees from Vietnam.

As governor, Ray sponsored approximately 4,000 Vietnamese refugees in Iowa during the 1970s.

Riedman said the group is anticipating 200 attendees.

The International Group for Humanity’s “primary goal is to help the needy.”

“It doesn’t matter what kind of need they are in,” Lartius said.

“Second Start” is the group’s current project, Riedman said.

“The Kosovian families are the current project because the issue is in immediate need of help,” she said.

“These people are in a disastrous situation and are where our energies and efforts should be spent,” she said.

The International Group for Humanity is not only looking to sponsor the families financially, but are assisting them in settling in the American culture.

“We are trying to help these people get jobs … and to help their children get into school, to get an education,” Riedman said.

“It is much more than financial support,” she said.

The “Second Start” project has received support from both ISU President Martin Jischke and Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Jischke wrote in a letter to Lartius, “Iowa has a proud and well-deserved history of hospitality towards those in need. This history reflects the strong sense of community that exemplifies the people of our state.

“I know that members of the Iowa State University community through their community, social and religious organizations will seek to help this effort as will other individuals in our area.”

Lartius said the dinner is not the end, but he said it is a start to helping the Kosovo refugee families.

Riedman said the group will be working with the Bureau of Refugee Services.

“The Bureau will help us to put our talents to the best purpose,” she said.

The Ames community has been receptive to the cause of the International Group for Humanity, Riedman said.

However, she said the organization still has many things to accomplish.

“We need help from people in the community. We need their help in sponsoring the families by forming committees that can provide transportation for job-hunting, that can help in teaching English to the refugees,” Riedman said.

“We are also looking for suggestions about how to sponsor,” she said.

Tickets to the dinner are $7 for adults and $5 for children under age seven.

Lartius refers to tickets as “shares” because “for $7 you are buying an investment in someone’s life,” he said.

“Shares” can be purchased at Members First Credit Union or from Lartius at 292-9607.