By Heather Krauseneck
After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August of last year, the departments of State and Homeland Security worked quickly to evacuate, vet and resettle 73,000 Afghan civilians in 49 states, including Connecticut. Through the Afghan Placement Assistance Program (APA), members of four extended Afghan families—41 people in all—have now relocated to Greenwich and Stamford. The work of caring for these families is overseen by Jewish Family Services of Greenwich (JFS) and a host of diligent and creative volunteers from area churches, synagogues and community organizations. The professionals at JFS and their volunteers oversee trips to grocery stores, halal markets and medical appointments. They arrange ESL classes, school enrollment for the children and job interviews for the adults, among many, many other important tasks.
Supporting these newcomers and helping them settle into independent lives and a new culture will be a long-term project. JFS is looking for two dedicated volunteers who want to work closely with the evacuees on a weekly basis, helping them prepare for financial independence and long-term success here in our area. They are also looking for 4-5 volunteers who are available a few hours a week to help with driving needs on weekday afternoons. If you—or perhaps your returning college student—are interested, please contact Heather Krauseneck at hkrauseneck@jfsgreenwich.org.
