MCC/SRVIC Refugee Work: Webinar, Covid/Flu Clinic, and Ways to Get Involved

**Positively no used clothing accepted at MCC or SRVIC masjids.**

MCC and SRVIC are in full swing addressing the needs of the large number of refugees now arriving in the Bay Area. Since August, working in partnership with local resettlement agencies, we have completed apartment set-ups for nine households and provided hot meals and/or groceries, hygiene kits and diapers to almost 50.

To learn more about our work, please watch this webinar held on October 8th in which refugee coordinators from MCC East Bay, San Ramon Valley Islamic Center (SRVIC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS) and Catholic Charities spoke about welcoming and integrating refugees from Afghanistan to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Here is the recording: https://youtu.be/SKUQFbbUlwc and here are the webinar presentation slides: https://mcceastbay.org/deck

There are many ways to get involved.

Here is the link for volunteering with our program. It is recommended that everyone sign up here even if you also sign up for a specific project using the links below.
To join as a youth volunteer, please email srvicyouthvolunteers@googlegroups.com.
For those available to deliver groceries, household supplies and/or furniture, sign up for the WhatsApp group here.
Sign up here to volunteer with the food pantry.
Sadaqa (charity) funds can be given to benefit Afghan refugees here.
Household items can be purchased from this Amazon wish list.
Furniture in like-new condition can be donated using this link.
Click here to learn more about donating used cars.
Use this form to share housing or employment referrals and/or to indicate willingness to co-sign on a lease.
We are also working on setting up a buddy program for mentoring new arrivals–use our main link to learn more about those opportunities as the program gets off the ground.

Do you have clothing to donate? United Afghan Association is collecting clothing for the refugees living in the military camps in Texas and New Mexico. Trucks will be driven down to the camps on Monday. They are currently accepting new or gently used jackets, coat and sweaters and NEW tops, shoes, pants, scarves, undergarments and socks. Please donate small and medium sizes only as they are more needed right now.

Dublin: 7833 Creekside Dr., Dublin CA 94568

Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24, 9am-12pm

Other locations are also accepting donations–please contact the United Afghan Association for more information. Email: UAArefugeeaid@gmail.com

Instagram: UnitedAfgAssociation Website: https://www.unitedafgassociation.org/

If you know someone who may qualify as a humanitarian parolee coming from Afghanistan, you may be interested in the information here about benefits for which they may be eligible.

Finally, MCC is hosting parallel free Covid and flu vaccination clinics this Friday 12:30-4:30 and also November 19th. Everyone is welcome, including recent arrivals. Make an appointment here.

Please feel free to reach out to us at refugee@mcceastbay.org with your questions, comments and suggestions.

We are in need of a few items for the arriving refugee families.

Blankets (new), space heaters, and sewing machines

Please drop these items off on Tuesday, Nov. 9th, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. Here is the signup link to donate these items.

Twin size mattresses (new), full size mattresses (new), and diapers size 5 and 6

Here is the amazon wish list for the mattresses and diapers. These items should be shipped directly to MCC (5724 W. Las Positas Blvd. Suite 300, Pleasanton, CA 94588). Diapers can also be dropped off to MCC during Jumu’ah (Friday prayer) or Saturdays 9 am – 1 pm.

The food pantry is in need of select items that can be dropped off to MCC during Jumu’ah (Friday prayer) or Saturdays 9 am – 1 pm. Here is the list: