Supporting Arriving Afghan Families

Photo courtesy The Guardian

UUs have been asking how they can support Afghan families arriving in the United States. Use the links at the bottom of this page to improve your efforts.

 

1: Find Partners::

  • Identify the official U.S. National Refugee Resettlement Agencies working in your state or community. There are nine (9) of them and they act as major resource and skill hubs in addition to running resettlement services.
  • Identify your local area refugee service partners. There are too many to count easily. Narrow the options by state or region. Best if you can identify a local area organization

2: Tap Skills::

  • Highlight for your care and justice networks, the special need for attorneys and landlords
  • Note the building need for English teachers, citizenship and workforce training teachers, mentors, office assistants, and interpreters start figuring out if you have volunteers. Then connect them to local area providers.

3: Provide Stuff::

  • Review the list of needed household and personal items detailed by partners and resettlement agencies. Flag, in many but not all cases, only new items are being accepted and clothing, furniture, and large items cannot always be accepted.
  • Consider monetary donations. UUSJ advises you to stick to the 9 resettlement agencies or local organizations listed through the Office of Refugee Resettlement and especially those you know as community neighbors.

4: Amplify and Advocate::

  • Voice your support via Twitter: you can Tweet at the President and Secretary of State @POTUS and @SecBlinken with hashtags including #AfghanEvac #EvacuateAfghans #GetThemtoGuam #SaveOurAllies #EvacuateOurAllies
  • Tell Congress to Evacuate or Allies with Church World Services

5: Offer Help::

  • Consider organizing to open your congregation for storage purposes, especially if your facility is in light use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Check with your local partners and offer what space you can. We are hearing that organizations collecting items are shutting down or slowing down because of a lack of adequate storage and staging space and, to a degree, able-bodied volunteers. Usually, all volunteers must be vaccinated and observe CDC guidelines/local mandates, etc. against COVID-19.
  • Service providers need trucks, and drivers, to pick up and drop off donated furniture to designated points. Offer to help if you have such vehicles or skills. Check with your local partners and let them know.

 

RESOURCES (click link to open)