Dear Parishioners,
As you are probably aware, some 5 thousand Afghan refugees will be placed at Quantico Marine Corps Base.
There has been a “call” for help in the way of, diapers, wipes, etc. (please see full list below). We plan to do our part as a parish and will be coordinating assistance for these refugees, through our Francis House outreach center.
The following items can be dropped off at the church during the week or when you come to Mass:
Portable Pack-n-Play
Portable Cribs
Diapers
Baby Wipes
Kids clothes/shoes
Power strips
Baby formula
Baby bottles
Thermoses
Bug spray
Hair clippers
Luggage
Nalgene bottles or similar
Thank you for your continuing support and generosity. Questions? Please contact Francia Salguero (Director of Outreach) at 703-221-6344 or 571-572-5862. Also, please see below a previous post on how to help Afghan refugees through Catholic Charities.
You’d like to help the newly arrived and incoming Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holders (SIVs) and their families but unsure how? First, thank you for thinking of Catholic Charities Migration & Refugee Services! Ours is one of three resettlement agencies in northern Virginia designated by the State Department to receive and place the newly arrived Afghan refugees. Every little bit of your help has an impact, and we appreciate your interest and generosity. Below are the best ways to help:
- (URGENT) Temporary & Long-Term Housing—If you know of friends or others who own properties for rent, it would help to provide stable housing for families as quickly as possible. MRS provides financial support towards rent but without credit or work history, it can be difficult to secure leasing for newly arriving SIV families. Our families benefit greatly from being near their family and friends in the area and so we are urgently looking for housing in:
a. Fredericksburg, VA
b. Sterling, VA
c. Woodbridge, VA
If you have contacts in other areas of Northern Virginia, please send them along—we are trying to work with ALL housing leads!
- New, household items/furnishings to outfit apartments for the new arrivals. The intersection of COVID-19 coupled with the State Department requirements for outfitting refugee housing translates into delivering as many new items to the families as possible. MRS’s AMAZON link to the list of household furnishings needs is below:
Feel free to use this list as a guide at other stores such as at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Burlington, or Big Lots—they have many similar/equivalent items.
- (Very) Gently Used Furniture (Pictures are very helpful to determine if we can accept donations!) – currently, we can ONLY ACCEPT:
a. Dining Room Tables & Chairs
b. Medium to small sofas, couches
We will arrange with you to pick-up and drop-off, preferably directly to the new apartments found for arrivals. Please be patient—as you can imagine our staff & warehouse space are stretched to the limit. Contact: Belayneh Loppisso | [email protected] | 571-292-2259
Again, thank you for your interest and help! If you any have questions, please email: [email protected] for further information.
Lourdes Iglesias
Community Engagement Specialist, Migration and Refugee Services (MRS)
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington
Migration and Refugee Services
8247 Shoppers Square
Manassas, VA 20111 office: 703.520.4011 | website: www.ccda.net