In March 2022, I met a beautiful family of four and our friendship began to form. Mother and her three adult children were refugees who had recently arrived in Arizona after a 6-month displacement journey from their home country of Afghanistan. We found ways to communicate face-to-face, using Google Translate, but the smiles and hugs were universally understood. We spent time together sharing stories, traditional Afghan meals and supportive conversations, and I offered to help with the steps to beginning their life in Arizona.
It has been my honor to advocate for my friends to accomplish tasks that you and I otherwise take for granted. Securing ID cards at the MVD, accessing food and clothing resources, navigating the immigration system and its paperwork requirements, securing employment and enrolling in English classes at a community college, interpreting health insurance plans and assisting in securing a vehicle for a fair price; I have been so happy to help my friends, but truly every refugee should have a friend to ease the transition into American life.
If your heart is open to mentoring a refugee family, please learn more about the wonderful people at Of One Heart.
Other wonderful ways to support refugee families through Gathering Humanity:
- Help throw a baby shower for refugee mothers
- Set-up a home with all the basic furnishings for a refugee family just arriving
- Fill stockings with needed items at Christmastime
- Create kits - hair kits, kitchen utensil kits, ESL kits etc.
- Make wall art for refugee homes
- Organize a donation drive - see list of accepted items
Gathering Humanity
