Stone Soup News/Afghans
In these last few months, as we have watched the exodus from Afghanistan, many of us have been looking for ways to welcome the Afghans who have had to flee their country with nothing but the clothes on their backs. These are people who have worked beside our soldiers and have had to leave Afghanistan with their families because their lives were in peril.
Team Hope, of which All Saints’ is a member, is a Neighborhood Support Team, working under the organization Ascentria Care Alliance. Ascentria is part of a consortium of non-profits responsible for resettling Afghans in New England.
We are expecting two families who will stay initially with Bill and Stephanie Bradbury and their neighbors until we can find permanent housing. Team members are committing to do the many tasks necessary to ease the way: registering for schools; helping to fill out forms; getting clothes; establishing medical care; shopping for groceries; searching for permanent housing and employment; just to name a few. If any of these sound like something you would like to help with, please contact Janet Ceasar. Right now we need sheets (queen and single size), mattress protectors (same sizes), towels and a dresser. Thank you to those who have already donated some of these items. Once we find permanent housing we shall need everything!
The Team (not just All Saints’) must also raise $5000. Once we raise it, the Shapiro Foundation will give us a matching grant bringing our total to $10,000, money that will be used to help pay for rent, food, clothing and other necessities while our new Afghan friends are getting established. Checks should be made payable to All Saints’ with Afghan Resettlement in the memo line.
We still don’t know who is coming or when, but Team members have all had our background checks cleared so another step along the way. As soon as there is any exciting news about the arrival of our new families we will let you know. Thank you for opening your hearts to more people in need.
Janet Ceasar, Stone Soup Chair
Click HERE to see a presentation for Team Hope