APARTMENT SET-UPS:
Alhamdulillah, through the support of the community, the SRVIC-MCC Refugee Support Team has been able to provide a variety of services to Afghan refugees arriving in the Bay Area. One of our primary objectives is to provide supplies and furniture for households setting up in new apartments so they can settle in and focus on jobs, education, and feeling at home. Since August we have provided apartment set-ups for 42 Afghan households and three refugee families from other parts of the world. We are currently averaging two apartment set-ups per week. Most of the delivery of furniture for these apartment set-ups is being done by only three volunteers. You do not need to have your own van or truck to participate. Please consider signing up for the WhatsApp group to help. Even driving once would be a big help.
Other ways to support this effort include:
- donating furniture in like-new condition using this link
- donating to the Afghan Refugee Support Fund
- purchasing items from our wish list
- volunteering to help with the 2/27/22 MCC East Bay Bazaar
Do not drop off used items at either MCC or SRVIC.
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS:
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is one of three agencies providing foster services to refugee children who arrive in California unaccompanied. They are looking for foster parents and also for people who could serve as cultural mentors to teach their staff and other foster parents who may not be Afghan or Muslim in order to help youth remain connected to their cultures, language, and religion. Please note that the majority of these unaccompanied minors are teenagers, not infants or young children. If you are interested in fostering or providing support, please contact Kelsey Coplin kcoplin@
BIKE DRIVE:
Bicycles can be a primary source of transportation for adults needing to get to work, classes, appointments, and shopping and can also be a form of entertainment for the whole family. Many of the refugee families we’re serving are requesting bikes and bike helmets, both for adults and for children. Unfortunately, currently we do not have storage space at MCC, and bike transportation can also be challenging. Please sign up here if you have a bike to donate and/or if you can help with any of these concerns.
Alternately, if you are interested in purchasing bike locks or helmets, you can do so on this wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/YU25R6H96PCM?ref_=wl_share
Other ways to support refugees include:
- Encouraging others to sign up for our volunteer updates
- Signing up to volunteer with the food pantry
- Clicking here to learn more about donating used cars
- Using this form to share housing or employment referrals and/or to indicate willingness to co-sign on a lease
Questions? Feel free to reach out to us at refugee@mcceastbay.org.
