How can you help Afghan refugees arriving in the U.S?
You’ve been asking how you can help refugees and SIVs from Afghanistan and how RAA will be supporting them. We are so happy to be part of a community that cares!
Our partners advised us some time ago that Afghan refugees would be resettled in South Florida at some point, but we are not a priority receiving location right now due to the fact that we do not have a large Afghan community. Those areas in the U.S. with large Afghan populations are being prioritized.
Although we do not have immediate volunteer needs, there are many things you can do to help right now! Our biggest focus right now is on preparation. We are doing everything we can to prepare for the influx of refugees - not just from Afghanistan, but from countries all around the world. There are 26 million refugees around the world, whom are all escaping equally perilous situations, and they need your help too!
Donate: At this point the biggest way you can help us prepare is by making a one-time donation, or signing up to Become an RAA Ally by setting up a recurring monthly donation. Recurring donations are the best way to make a lasting impact.
Advocate: Use your voice to tell Congress and the President that helping refugees and SIVs is important to you. Urge the President to raise the refugee cap, allocate funding and resources to resettlement, and assist all of our Afghan Allies stuck in Afghanistan. Post to social media, and recruit your friends and family to advocate with you. We need to keep pressure on the administration to take action now.
Volunteer: Reach out to your local refugee resettlement agencies (VolAg), community-based organizations, houses of worship, universities to see if there is any way you can help. Depending on where you are located in the U.S., helping Afghans might not be the number one priority for volunteering, but it doesn’t mean your help isn’t needed. If you are in the Miami area, you can fill out our Volunteer Intake Form, and we will get back to you as soon as we have information.
Educate: The situation in Afghanistan and the refugee resettlement situation around the world is complicated. Do your research and share posts. Know that this issue is not going away. There is no quick fix. We are in this for the long haul, so please stick around and do what you can to garner support for your newest neighbors!