7 Ways to Help Afghan Refugees

"May the Church be a good neighbor, welcoming and caring for those seeking to rebuild."

We are all looking for ways to engage and help as we watch the news from Afghanistan. In our recent conversation with World’s Relief‘s Matthew Soerens, he offered some tangible ways we can help. (Full video in our IGTV). Here are 7 things you can do!

Volunteer with a Refugee Resettlement Agency

As refugees arrive, resettlement agencies help families find housing and employment. Individuals and churches can partner with them to help these families rebuild their homes and lives. Here are some places to start:
  • World Relief
  • Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS)
  • United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
  • Church World Service (CWS)
  • Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)

Here’s an easy way to find who works in your area! Click on your state on the Office of Refugee Resettlement map to find out where to plug in.

Advocate

The President needs to hear from the public loud and clear. You can call or email the White House and Senators. We have some tools to help make this easier for you. Here’s information about how to contact your lawmakers. We’ve put together a guide to help you organize your thoughts and use your voice well when you reach out to your lawmakers. Let’s tell our leaders we must evacuate the people we’ve made a commitment to and then assist them once they arrive. Leaving our allies behind is not an option.

Create Welcome Kits for New Arrivals

Many resettlement agencies have Amazon wishlists or other lists of donation needs to help welcome and set up a new family. You can order items on World Relief’s wishlist to have them go directly to a new family arriving.

Donate

World Relief estimates it costs $15,000 to resettle a family of four. Women of Welcome came together to support these efforts. We are so proud of the generosity of this community, who raised $5000 for World Relief. You can still give to World Relief directly online.

Find Housing

Are you (or is someone you know) a landlord? Agencies are in need of housing for those without a U.S. credit history. If so, get in touch with one of the agencies we mentioned above and let them know. They would love to hear from you as they prepare to resettle arriving families.

Pray

We believe in the power of prayer. Individually or gathered together, we offer prayers of protection and provision. We pray God’s presence to be felt in every moment of need. We pray for refugees entering new communities. May the Church be a good neighbor, welcoming and caring for those seeking to rebuild.

Be a Friend

One of the #1 things refugees name that they need when they arrive in the U.S. is a friend, someone to walk alongside them in their new life. You can be a friend. Multiplying Hope can help you be equipped to respond quickly, comprehensively, responsibly, and compassionately. Their trainings help individuals in relationships with arriving refugees respond in a way that gives an appropriate trauma response from day one, followed by on-going healing conversations, and eventually leading to multiplying, on-going healing groups that meet together around God’s Word. Check out one of their trainings.