Take Action for Our Afghan Allies
Afghan Arrivals
More than 76,000 Afghans were evacuated from Afghanistan directly to the United States in August, 2021. This first wave of Afghan evacuees are being resettled through community sponsorship and co-sponsorship volunteer teams and by refugee resettlement agencies. OCJCR is currently resettling nine Afghan families through community sponsorship teams in partnership with Home for Refugees and through HIAS Welcome Circles.
Due to lack of funding, budget and staff cuts over the past four years, resettlement agencies are relying on community and faith-based organizations like ours to help in the resettlement process. One of the most urgent needs is to find affordable housing.
The second wave of Afghan evacuees who were brought temporarily to lily pad locations in Qatar and Germany are now arriving to the United States and many are choosing to join the vibrant Afghan community in Orange County.
Volunteer support teams of 5-8 people help asylum seekers and refugees attain self sufficiency during their first year.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED NOW TO HELP RESETTLE NEWLY ARRIVING AFGHANS.
Afghan Relief Fund
Your contribution to OCJCR’s Afghan Relief Fund will help provide training to community sponsorship volunteer teams who will accompany a refugee family for one year, offer financial assistance to new arrivals for food, housing, and emergency needs, and help with costs for a rental unit used to store, organize and distribute donations.
Furnishings
Refugees arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs. We set up apartments for new arrivals with essential items needed. Costs for these items are not covered by resettlement agencies. We are accepting gently used furniture, beds, kitchen / dining room tables and chairs, sofas, dressers, household cleaning supplies, new bedding and linens, and more.
To coordinate a donation drop-off, please email Nancy Neudorf at info@OCJCR.org.
Click here to purchase items most needed by new arrived Afghan families as they begin their lives anew. We are currently holding a back-to-school backpack drive.
Volunteers Needed
We are frequently in need of volunteers able to move larger furniture items to our storage unit in Laguna Hills and to help sort smaller household items at our Irvine storage location. Email us at info@OCJCR.org to volunteer with us.
Connect us
Can you help connect us with landlords and property owners willing to rent to refugees? Housing is the most urgent challenge at the moment as tens of thousands of Afghans are imminently being approved for release from military camps and placement in U.S. cities. Please email us at info@OCJCR.org.
AirBnb Owners
You can list your property with AirBnB.org to host a refugee by providing temporary housing to new arrivals while we secure permanent housing solutions. Please let us know if you register with AirBnB so we can coordinate with the resettlement agencies.
Email us at info@OCJCR.org.
How Does your Synagogue Partner With OCJCR?
Find out how your synagogue or organization is partnering with the OC Jewish Coalition for Refugees? There may already be volunteers at your organization with whom we can connect you. Want to learn or do more? Email us at info@OCJCR.org.
