Help an immigrant family

I'm Josh Howell, and I learned of an immigrant family through a former Army buddy. Safi was a translator for the US Army, and as such had to get out of Afghanistan or be killed by the Taliban. He, his wife, and his four kids finally got their visas, are now trying to settle into the US. You can't even imagine what a huge culture shock this is for them. They've never owned a car, been in a mall, or lived outside of their little village in Afghanistan. 

Safi has a job today, and rides three busses each way to get to and from work. He's so happy to be earning money and seeing his children learn english and get to go to school, particularly his three daughters, for whom an education would probably not have been possible. 

Their love for this country, what it's made possible for them, and their eagerness to learn is a study in human resiliency. They have next to nothing, but consider themselves so blessed. I've been working to teach him to drive (he has scraped enough together to buy a car), but they have a lot of other needs as well:  Shoes and jackets for the kids, a laptop so the kids can do their online math homework, a bunkbed, a real table and chairs for their apartment, a couch, etc. 

I know America has benefited greatly from immigrants. You and I are both descended from many, many immigrants. I'm confident America isn't this hateful, shameful outpouring of anger we see today. At great personal risk to him and his family, Safi helped the US and probably saved a lot of US lives. In return, he and his family lost everything. It's unlikely he will ever see his mother again. 

Let's make this Christmas a merry one, but it gets cold well before then. Anything helps. 


josh