Support a Refugee Family's New Beginning

We're raising money for a refugee family.

For those of you who are unaware, my mother and I have been helping a family that escaped the Taliban. The father was a civil engineer in Afghanistan. He fled with his family when the Taliban took his home, emptied his bank accounts, threatened to indoctrinate his children, and kill both him and his wife. He was held against his will, beaten and tortured. Pursuant to Taliban edicts, women are not allowed to leave their homes unaccompanied by their husband, father or brother-in-law. Even when accompanied by an appropriate male, women fear being beaten for showing even a slight portion of their skin. This is the fate to which the mother and her young daughter were bound to after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. After an abduction of the father, the Taliban demanded a ransom. After delivering a portion of the ransom, the family fled for their lives. Because of all of this, we are unable to share their photo, or their names.

After over 2 years of trying to make their way here, they have now become part of our family. We are doing everything we can to help them on their quest to become United States citizens.

We have assisted them in securing housing. My mother has been driving the kids to school, to doctor's appointments and to soccer practice. She's enrolled the mother into a local community program that is teaching her English.

The family is on a long list of applicants for temporary protected status here in the United States, which when granted will allow the parents to apply for work permits here. Until then, they’re trying to support their kids on what little day labor work can be found.

While the community has been supportive and while we’ve found several programs to help with food and clothing, there’s a long way to go before the family can attain financial security here. He is a highly trained civil servant, now attempting to find menial work and odd jobs where he can.

This family has touched our hearts in ways we couldn’t imagine. We’re simply trying to help bridge the financial gap until they are able to support themselves.

If you can help in any way, we’d appreciate it.