AFGHAN REFUGEE SUPPORT
JOIN A TEAM
In February, 134 Afghan refugees were placed in the Santa Clarita Valley. About 80 of them are children and most of them came with just the clothes on their backs. Our first round of clothing, shoes, and basic needs were successfully delivered! Thank you to those of you who really went above and beyond to meet the call. The families were so grateful!
After meeting the families and working very closely with our local expert and advocate for this specific group, we have identified three clear, urgent areas of need.
We ask you to thoughtfully consider signing up for one of our three teams:
1) MENTORSHIP TEAM
***MOST URGENT NEED***
We are grateful for the way that this community has rallied around our precious Afghan brothers and sisters who have come as refugees. We now ask those of you part of our E58 community to serve in a specific way–MENTORSHIP. Our desire is to pair each refugee family to someone (a pair of volunteers, or household) who will serve as a mentor, advocate and friend that will walk along side them. These individuals and families are in urgent need of support as their days are numbered at the hotel and many of them have been given 48 hours to two weeks to find new housing. They are also in need of support in finding jobs.
Several people within our community have already been paired with an Afghan family and it's been incredible. These mentors are walking with these families through helping them figure out their paper work such as medical cards, making calls to the schools for them, and helping them search for apartments they can live in. These are very practical things that are so needed!
If you'd like to be a mentor but are unsure if you're able to take on this responsibility alone, we are pairing individuals together who can partner together to support and mentor an Afghan refugee family together.
They need people who can relationally walk along side and be their trusted friend as they build a new life here. We ask you to join our mentorship team and sign up today!
2 ) T R A N S L A T O R S T E A M
Translators are not needed with every interaction, but will be called to help with more important conversations around paperwork, appointments, etc. If signing up for this team, please let us know what language(s) you speak.
Our team will provide support through cultural competence training videos and a communication channel with other Translators Team Members.
VOLUNTEER FOR THE TRANSLATORS TEAM
3 ) G O O D S + S E R V I C E S T E A M
This is our “on call” team that is available to intermittently meet the needs of these families. Some examples of reasons for call would be: trips to the grocery store, childcare, running errands, and helping with transportation.
Our team will provide support through cultural competence training videos and a communication channel with other Goods + Services Team Members.
VOLUNTEER FOR THE GOODS + SERVICES TEAM
Once you have submitted your form one of our E58 Team Members will reach out to you shortly.
OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
P R A Y E R
Please continue to pray for our Afghan brothers and sisters as they begin to build their lives here in the United States.
G I V E
How to give:
1) Visit Expression58.org/giving
2) Click 'Give Online' and follow prompts
3) Under 'Giving Type' select 'Justice Offering'
4) In the 'Memo' section please specify, REFUGEE SUPPORT
LEARN MORE
LEADERSHIP
Pastoral Lead – Jennifer Toledo
Primary Liaison – Weeda
Initiative Coordinator – Maddy Deaconson
FAQs
If you have any questions, please email office@expression58.org