Support Afghan Refugees in the Hudson Valley

Imagine that you are a professional couple living a comfortable life. The next day, you hear that your lives are in danger, and if you don't leave your country, you will be hunted down and shot. This is not just a story; this is the experience of an Afghan couple who were on the road for seven months, going through four countries, until they arrived safely in the Hudson Valley.

 

In late January 2022, due to the ongoing refugee crisis in Afghanistan, our group formed an all-volunteer Afghan Circle of the Hudson Valley, a “Sponsor Circle” dedicated to welcoming, resettling and integrating a number of those traumatized exiles here. In a very short time, we established 20 active Circle Members, a great fiscal sponsor (United Way of Ulster County NY), a website and excellent community support from local refugee organizations, humanitarian groups, Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups, the local government, local medical practices, food pantries and local businesses.

 

At the end of this past March, we welcomed our first Afghan refugee family. They are the young couple described above who escaped the Taliban after being hunted house-to-house due to their professions. Their identity and location are private, as the Taliban is hunting their families now. We have raised some money for them so that our Circle can begin to support them for a few months (for rent, transportation to appointments, fees for vital paperwork, medical care, insurance, utilities, cell service, etc.). We will continue to support them until they find proper work and are self-sufficient. That could take six months to a year.

 

To welcome, resettle and integrate them successfully, we need additional funding. Your donation will go a long way toward making our effort a success and their lives as Americans much better.