Native refuge El Refugio reaches out to county’s Latino population. New Jersey

“NEWTON ”” El Refugio, an outreach center for Latino families, will open its doors this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.

A handful of established county agencies banded together to create the center at 19 Church St. to serve Sussex County’s growing Latino population. The name, El Refugio, is pronounced El Re-FOO-hio.

“The center is a way to introduce those newly arrived to the current Latino population and services,” said Father Robert Griner, rector of Christ Episcopal Church. The Newton church spearheaded the effort, collaborating with The Center for Prevention and Counseling, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sussex County and The American Institute of Hispanic Heritage.

The reverend of Christ Church for 21/2 years, Griner said one of the reasons he was hired was to “find the gaps” in the community.”

“One of the charges was to look for the least and bring them into the community with us,” Griner said. “Where are the folks that are in the outskirts, the exiles that need to be brought home?”"

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