Local employees of the New York Times bureau in Kabul and their families, 127 in all, have arrived safely in Houston. Their basic needs are being met for the time being by Catholic Charities, under contract with the U.S. Government in a refugee resettlement program, with help from The Times. 

But to be successfully re-settled here, they have needs beyond what Catholic Charities is contracted to provide.

For starters, twelve English-speaking adult members of the group who already know how to drive will need U.S. driver’s licenses. This will help them find good jobs, and to navigate life in Texas. They will have to take a short course to prepare for the test for learners' permits, and then they will need some professional instruction before they take their road tests. And they will need to use a driving school's car for the road tests, because nobody in the group has a car.

So we are setting an initial fundraising goal of $8,000, which should be enough, after Go Fund Me fees, to cover their expenses for getting licenses.

If we exceed the goal, money will be used to meet other needs for people in the group.

Donatella Lorch and Mary Williams Walsh will audit the accounts.

I will be posting reports in the Facebook group, or you can contact me directly.

--- Matt Wald