Afghan Refugee Support from the SCB Community

SCB Families:

One of the key teachings of our church is to live in service for others. Our students live our faith in multitudes of ways: supporting the homeless, making sandwiches for the hungry, serving the food banks, and serving at church. As a parish, we serve our communities both locally and internationally.

As we look at some of the humanitarian needs across the world, the situation in Afghanistan is forcing people to flee their country, and many are coming here to the United States. These families are arriving in this country with only what they can carry.

We at St. Charles are looking to support an Afghan family as they relocate to the Tacoma area. Our plan is to provide the support needed to set up a household and to provide the mentoring the family needs to become self-sufficient.

The Saint Charles community has a reputation for its compassion and generosity. The purpose of this email is to tap into those qualities.

First, I would like to establish a committee of volunteers to help guide this program and provide mentoring to this family.Anyone willing to serve on this committee should contact me directly.

Next, the most immediate need an arriving family will have is housing. If anyone has a rental property, a mother-in-law apartment, or has a friend who has either for short term use, please contact me.

Once we are connected to an arriving family we will be able to determine the family’s specific needs. At that time we will be looking for donations of such things as household items, furniture, clothing, toys, used mobile devices and computers – anything and everything a family might need to start a new life and become acclimated to a new country and culture.

Afghan families are arriving in our area with very little advance notice. We could be asked to help a family at any time. Therefore, my immediate goal is to establish our committee of volunteers and to attempt to secure housing options. Please contact me if you can help with either.

Lastly, we need to raise funds to cover a variety of the families other needs. After consulting with a local resettlement agency on the typical needs of a refugee family, I have set a fundraising goal of $35,000. We have already raised approximately $14,000 through private fundraising from St Charles supporters. Please consider donating to this worthy cause.  You can make your checks payable to SCB - Afghan Support.

Thank you for your support in time, talent and treasure. We are truly blessed here at SCB.

St. Charles Borromeo, Pray for us.

Beth O’Reilly

Principal, SCB