<div><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/61135329_1641863066942324_r.jpeg" alt="61135329_1641863066942324_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />ECDC Training of BCOA core volunteers (not including Santa and his helpers), December 2021<br /><br /><br />Saalam Aleikum, family &amp; friends:<br /><br />Bryan and I asked and you responded 'uber' generously. So we are going to up the ante - increasing our goal in order to host more Afghan families in Southern Vermont. Join our #RefugeesRegistry!<br /><br />Our Bennington County Open Arms (BCOA) ‘train’ only just left the station in July 2021 and has been picking up speed and passengers since then.  With the collapse of Afghanistan’s government on August 15, BCOA has grown from a core group of 4 to over 40+ core volunteers and an extensive list of ad hoc volunteers, including from churches in Bennington, Dorset, Arlington and Manchester.  All have been working hard to get ready to welcome  Afghan refugees in Southwestern Vermont.<br /><br />BCOA has signed several MOUs with the <a href="https://www.ecdcus.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ECDC</a>  Multicultural Community Center in Brattleboro, one of the nine refugee resettlement agencies in the United States.  ECDC has trained our core volunteers to welcome and accompany new arrivals through their resettlement period. The lived and professional experiences of our talented volunteers - including the G.o.D Squad (Grandparents-on-Demand to provide babysitting or home-cooked meals) - and the relative diversity of our core volunteers, indicate that BCOA is more than ready to welcome the new arrivals into our corner of Vermont.  The most significant limit to our capacity is finding affordable housing, which is in shortage everywhere. If you know of affordable (!) rentals, please let us know.<br /><br />In addition to assisting the new arrivals with finding permanent housing, applying for employment amd social services, registering for documentation, and enrolling in local schools, BCOA will need to furnish the apartment and kitchen.  The funds raised from our November 13th fundraiser, from local churches, grants and private donors will help defray costs for sponsoring refugee families that will not be covered by Federal or State government support.<br /><br />BCOA has a "donation first policy", meaning we are committed to source all needs first through donations before spending any raised funds reserved for BCOA-supported families. <br /><br />All donations through our fiscal sponsor, the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please note 'BCOA' in the memo line for accounting purposes. <a href="https://www.dorsetchurch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dorset Church</a> 

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<div>The Refugee Settlement Agency requires us - the co-sponsors - to make a mininum financial commitment of $3,000 per family. Local churches and contacts have already generously promised used furniture, beddings, winter clothing and kitchen wares, but we still need to fill the gaps. To support our new arrivals -- in ways big or small -- please consider these various options of our #RefugeesRegistry:

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<div>$900 can pay for one month's rent.

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<div>$450 can pay for half a month's rent.<br /><br />$200 can pay for a full mattress.<br /><br />$150 can pay for twin mattress.

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<div>$100 can pay for groceries. Free halal meat will be donated initially by a nearby Islamic center.

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<div><a href="https://www.al-hidaya.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.al-hidaya.org" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.al-hidaya.org</a></a>

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<div>$100  can  go towards one month's utilities in the winter.<br /><br />Combined with your generosity, BCOA is able to multiply our blessings to help strangers in need.  If it takes a village to raise a child, it will take many villages to settle new arrivals in Vermont.  Thank you for your kindness!<br /> <br />BCOA in the news:<br /><a href="https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/afghan-refugee-families-expected-to-settle-in-county-in-2022/article_9a17b560-6828-11ec-a4f1-6bedf8d77f3e.html"><a href="https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/afghan-refugee-families-expected-to-settle-in-county-in-2022/article_9a17b560-6828-11ec-a4f1-6bedf8d77f3e.html" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/afghan-refugee-families-expected-to-settle-in-county-in-2022/article_9a17b560-6828-11ec-a4f1-6bedf8d77f3e.html</a></a><br /><br /><a href="https://gnat-tv.org/the-news-project-welcoming-new-neighbors"><a href="https://gnat-tv.org/the-news-project-welcoming-new-neighbors" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://gnat-tv.org/the-news-project-welcoming-new-neighbors</a></a><br /><br />
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Alice Moss

Justin Latus

Dominic Montagu

Anonymous

Max Aguilar

Thomas Malia

Leslie Kielson

Robert Lang

Amrita Alice Moss

Tiet Phan

GoFundMe.org 

Heather Hamilton

Bennington County Open Arms #RefugeesRegistry

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Bennington County Open Arms #RefugeesRegistry

Still $5,352 to go. Help us build momentum.