AJPR
AJPR Newsletter, February 23
Afghan Report, January 23
AJPR Newsletter December 22
AJPR Newsletter November 22
AJPR Newsletter October 22
In Austin, Afghan refugees contend with the realities of a new American life - National Journal, July 27, 2022
To Heal the World by Brad Stutzman from The Williamson County Sun - July 17, 2022
Five Takeaways from the 2021 UNHCR Global Trends Report - July 2022
From Kabul to Virginia: An Afghan family is starting over in America - January 2022
CLINIC HIGHLIGHTS - February 2022
Stories of Hope
The beginning of 2022 has offered many opportunities for Hope Clinic to make a big impact. We have been able to assist in the resettlement of some of the over 1,000 Afghans who have been brought to our area to start a new life. The staff has seen many who have high blood pressure, diabetes, and other primary care needs. Their stories are hard and their needs are great, but we are honored to be able to relieve some healthcare concerns for those who come through our doors.
Refugee Services of Texas (RST), Austin Jews and Partners for Refugees (AJPR), HEB, and Hope Clinic have joined together to offer COVID vaccinations to our Afghan neighbors. They have no transportation, do not yet speak English, and are striving to get their children in school and find jobs, so they face challenging barriers to accessing any kind of healthcare. Our solution? We are taking the vaccines to them where they live in extended stays and apartments around the city. Nonprofits throughout Austin are overwhelmed but determined to help these people who have left behind their homes, friends, and in many cases family members in Afghanistan. Your support means the world to us, but more importantly, it means the world to our patients.
Stories of Hope
The beginning of 2022 has offered many opportunities for Hope Clinic to make a big impact. We have been able to assist in the resettlement of some of the over 1,000 Afghans who have been brought to our area to start a new life. The staff has seen many who have high blood pressure, diabetes, and other primary care needs. Their stories are hard and their needs are great, but we are honored to be able to relieve some healthcare concerns for those who come through our doors.
Refugee Services of Texas (RST), Austin Jews and Partners for Refugees (AJPR), HEB, and Hope Clinic have joined together to offer COVID vaccinations to our Afghan neighbors. They have no transportation, do not yet speak English, and are striving to get their children in school and find jobs, so they face challenging barriers to accessing any kind of healthcare. Our solution? We are taking the vaccines to them where they live in extended stays and apartments around the city. Nonprofits throughout Austin are overwhelmed but determined to help these people who have left behind their homes, friends, and in many cases family members in Afghanistan. Your support means the world to us, but more importantly, it means the world to our patients.
Austin Jews and Partners for Refugees Newsletter, December 2021
On behalf of the Austin Jews for Refugees group, we would like to sincerely thank you, our volunteers and donors for all of your support of our activities. What had started out as a small group of volunteers has blossomed into a large, interfaith effort to support the newly arriving Afghan refugees. Our group has grown to almost 200 volunteers and has taken on a huge role in supporting Refugee Services of Texas in resettling 500 refugees since September with another 500 coming to Austin in the next three months. We are now partnering with at least 5 churches, 4 synagogues, NCJW (National Council of Jewish Women), JFS (Jewish Family Services), MCSS (Muslim Community Support Services) along with the Afghan and Muslim communities.
Many of you have served on at least one of our groups, led by experienced Team Leaders (all passionate volunteers). They include our Airport Team (greeting new arrivals at the airport and driving them to their first temporary hotel or Airbnb home), Welcome Meals Team (home-cooked Afghan meals, stored at Congregation Beth Israel’s kitchen, and delivered to every new family on the day of arrival), Food and Grocery team (picking up and delivering groceries and Halal meats the morning after arrival, as well as Orienting new families to the features of their residence), Apartment Set Up Team (cleaning, furnishing, and shopping for our families’ first permanent home), Clothing Team (collecting and distributing to all ages, infant through adult), Donations (pick up and distribution of furniture and home goods for apartment setups), Transportation (to medical visits, grocery shopping, check cashing, meetings at Refugee Services of Texas offices, etc.), Technology (we are raising funds to provide every family with a Chromebook and smart phone), and Finances/Fundraising.
We are also focusing on two new projects in the coming year:
On behalf of our AJR Steering Committee and Team Leaders, our partner Refugee Services of Texas and all of our interfaith partners, we thank you for your compassion and generosity. You all make a difference in the lives of Afghan refugees.
Sincerely,
Nancy Wolf and Russ Apfel
Many of you have served on at least one of our groups, led by experienced Team Leaders (all passionate volunteers). They include our Airport Team (greeting new arrivals at the airport and driving them to their first temporary hotel or Airbnb home), Welcome Meals Team (home-cooked Afghan meals, stored at Congregation Beth Israel’s kitchen, and delivered to every new family on the day of arrival), Food and Grocery team (picking up and delivering groceries and Halal meats the morning after arrival, as well as Orienting new families to the features of their residence), Apartment Set Up Team (cleaning, furnishing, and shopping for our families’ first permanent home), Clothing Team (collecting and distributing to all ages, infant through adult), Donations (pick up and distribution of furniture and home goods for apartment setups), Transportation (to medical visits, grocery shopping, check cashing, meetings at Refugee Services of Texas offices, etc.), Technology (we are raising funds to provide every family with a Chromebook and smart phone), and Finances/Fundraising.
We are also focusing on two new projects in the coming year:
- Salaam Neighbors will pair volunteer welcome teams with an Afghan family to support their resettlement in their new homes. This is a commitment of 3 months. Please see our attached flier for more information about registration for a Zoom Webinar on December 21 at 7:00 pm. Link to Salaam Neighbors flier with zoom information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XvjfkQ0ZOcjGT-svvSiSy1RmZAok4D2O/edit
- Helping New Moms and Babies will address the many pregnant women in need of pre and post-partum care as well as furnishing their babies with all they need. Watch for more details of opportunities to get involved.
On behalf of our AJR Steering Committee and Team Leaders, our partner Refugee Services of Texas and all of our interfaith partners, we thank you for your compassion and generosity. You all make a difference in the lives of Afghan refugees.
Sincerely,
Nancy Wolf and Russ Apfel
