How You Can Help Refugees In Our Community
It’s difficult for anyone to watch the crisis unfold in Afghanistan, but for Afghan refugees already settled in the U.S., the unrest and uncertainty is heartbreaking: they worry about the safety of loved ones on the other side of the world. Newcomers Access Center (NAC) is helping many such families in the Inland Valley area, and is seeking support from the greater community.
NAC is assisting one father from Rancho Cucamonga who took his children, 13, 10 and 6 back to Afghanistan to visit their grandparents for the summer. He returned home to the US and planned to go back to Kabel to pick the up last week. Now they are stranded.
“He is beside himself with worry,” said NAC board member Anne Thorward, who is assisting him in reaching out to Representative Pete Aguilar’s office for help.
The US embassy has a process for people who want to leave Afghanistan including US citizens and legal residents as well as non-citizens who may be at risk, particularly those who have worked for the U.S. government. But it is not easy to navigate. NAC is helping another family from Rancho Cucamonga who is trying to get family out—one relative made it to Washington DC and the other is almost on his way to Qatar.
NAC board members expect more Afghan refugee families to arrive in the weeks and months to come. Volunteers are reaching out to line up community resources for temporary housing, transportation, household necessities and services to help refugees resettle.
“If you want to help local Afghan refugees, you can sign up with NAC to assist with airport pick-ups, apartment set-ups or bringing a meal to refugees when they arrive,” said Thorward. “Many of these newcomers from Afghanistan put their lives on the line supporting our troops. Now it is time for us to welcome them and lend a helping hand.”
To help, please donate, sign up to volunteer, or reach out to adminstrator@newcomersaccesscenter.org.
Ways to Help
- Donate to Newcomers Access Center (what we need the most!)
- Donate gift cards (Target Amazon etc) that refugees can use (drop them off or mail them to us.)
- Purchase new car seats (by state law they must be new–right now we need car seats for an infant, a 2-year old, and a 3-year old.)
- Donate furniture, household items, laptop, tablet or phones (we will work with you to arrange pick up and drop off.)
- Donate thrift store items to ACTS Thrift store in Pomona in NAC’s name earning a credit refugees can shop with
- Offer transportation from airport or around town
- Offer to use a truck to transport furniture or boxes
- Offer airline miles to buy a flight for a refugee
- Offer a meal or restaurant gift card to welcome new refugees
- Tutor English to spouses or children who do not speak English well
- Tutor children who may need help in a new school
- Offer social media skills to spread the word about NAC and how to help
- Offer of legal services for those who may need it
- Offer of employment or help finding employment