Latest Updates on the Afghan Evacuee Resettlement Project

Feb 16, 2022 | Immigrant and Resettlement, JFS of Metrowest, New American Services, Resettlement, We are JFS!

Thank you for your interest in helping to resettle Afghan evacuees!

The commandment to care for the stranger is mentioned more times than any other commandment in the Torah. To date, JFS has welcomed 13 Afghan evacuee families (47 individuals) to the Greater Boston Metrowest area since mid-October. This includes children ranging from newborns to 17 years-old. All of the school-aged children are enrolled (pre-school through high school), and all families are currently taking ESL classes and tutoring through their sponsors. Supported by JFS Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships Lucia Panichella and case managers Nermin Helaly, Fahim Amin, Susan Delahunt, and Maggie Kenney, as well as dozens of faith organizations, volunteers and specialists, these families are building a new life of hope and safety in the United States.

Community sponsors include Temple Beth Elohim of Wellesley, Temple Beth Shalom of Needham, Congregation Beth Elohim of Acton and UCC Boxborough, Temple Beth David of Westwood, and Temple Shir Tikva of Wayland. Other key partners include, Catholic Charities, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston (JCRC), and JFS of Western MA. Click here to learn more about the community sponsors and other local groups’ work!

JFS is providing Afghan families with the following forms of aid:

    • Housing and rental assistance: Apartments have been set up thoughtfully with furniture, food, and children’s toys to make the families feel welcome from their first steps in their new homes.
    • Public benefits application support
    • Health and dental insurance applications
    • Clothing and food assistance
    • Employment support through Jewish Vocational Services (JVS): 80% of JVS program participants get hired into new jobs each year, including several of our Afghan clients. Those seeking employment meet regularly with JVS for career coaching, job search assistance, interview preparation, skills training, and career advancement services.
    • Community/network building (introductions to neighbors, employment connections, dental and healthcare resources, and rides to local mosques and Islamic centers)
    • Hiring of Dari and Pashto-speaking case managers
Ways you can help:
    • Donations:
        • If you are able to provide financial assistance to support the housing and other needs of these arriving families, please click here to make a contribution. Please note that we have a match up to $15,000.00 so make your donation today and have twice the impact!
        • For furniture and other donations, please fill out this form! To best match need and supply, the information generated in the form will help Team Leads, working with the JFS/JCRC/CCAB partnership, quickly identify and mobilize to get families what they need.
    • Gift Cards: An easy way to immediately start helping is by starting a drive for gift cards to donate to the effort: Stop and Shop, Market Basket, Target, Walmart, and CVS are all greatly appreciated. Donations of gift cards can be delivered to JFS of Metrowest, 475 Franklin Street, Suite 101, Framingham, MA 01702, Attention: Amanda Coughlin
    • Housing: Housing continues to be the most urgent need. If you have a separate space with a private bathroom – such as a rental property, in-law apartment, vacation home, etc. – in the greater Boston/Metrowest area that can be made available for an incoming family, please click here and complete the form.

Volunteers from CBE/UCCB greet an Afghan family with flowers in their new apartment.

Thank you for partnering with JFS to ensure these families have what they need as they take their first steps towards safety in the shelter of our welcoming community.

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