"Operation Take Action:" Growing grassroots group in Milwaukee plans to help Syrian refugees

MILWAUKEE -- As the extent of their suffering becomes increasingly apparent, the plight of countless Syrian refugees is getting more support throughout the world. Here in southeastern Wisconsin, a growing grassroots group is poised to do its part.

"It's keeping us up at night, worrying about our fellow human beings," said Maggie Kuhn Jacobus with the group Milwaukee Refugee Supporters.

This group's passion for people pushed posts on social media, which prompted a plan.

Maggie Kuhn Jacobus

"Several of us had posted on Facebook these feelings of feeling dis-empowered and hopeless and helpless about the refugee crisis with the Syrians. We said 'hey, why don't we get together and talk about real action that could be taken -- rather than posting on Facebook our helpless feelings,'" said Kuhn Jacobus.

As a result of a recent discussion and a strong desire, Kuhn Jacobus and others are organizing an event known as the "Operation Take Action Dinner Discussion and Planning Session."

Operation Take Action Dinner and Planning Session

"We do not have the answers whatsoever. I often have found that you get the best answers when you go into a challenge like this open-minded," said Kuhn Jacobus.

The hope, Kuhn Jacobus  says, is that the collection of a couple dozen people with their minds open, will help bring some of the suffering to a close.

Milwaukee Refugee Supporters Facebook

"We as individuals want to be able to take action so that when history looks back on this time, we can say, 'yes, we knew and yes we did something,'" said Kuhn Jacobus.

Kuhn Jacobus suggests those interested in joining the effort to join the Facebook group.