Special Afghanistan Report
A Dispatch from Immanuel House in San Jose
As Friends of Immanuel House, you are no doubt aware of the urgent resettlement of thousands of Afghan refugees. The House is equipped to receive only single men, and indeed all our current residents are from Afghanistan. Some hold Special Immigrant Visas, which means they worked as interpreters or aides for the US military, but all are refugees and all are concerned about family members left behind.
If you would like to help Immanuel House in particular, here are two methods:
- We have exhausted our supply of NEW twin-sized bedding (sheets, blankets, comforters or quilts) plus pillows and towels. We could use donations of any of these items. Please send a message to info@immanuelhousesj.org to request a time to drop off donations.
- Use this paypal button to make a donation to Immanuel House Refugee Project, Inc., we are a 501(c)3 organization that operates transitional housing.
We work with two resettlement agencies, International Rescue Committee and Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley, and they have more extensive needs as they are resettling families as well as individuals. Here are ways to donate to those organizations. (The information below was originally published in the San Jose Mercury News.)
International Rescue Committee Northern California: The IRC has offices in both Oakland and San Jose, and the organization has resettled more than 16,000 Afghan refugees through the Special Immigrant Visa program established by the U.S. in 2006, more than half of those in California, according to the IRC website. IRC Northern California is raising $150,000 toward its “Afghan Soft Landing Fund,” which will be used to cover emergency temporary housing costs, and rental and utility assistance for refugee families. Donate here.
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley: In the South Bay, the organization expects to resettle about 25 people from Afghanistan by the end of the month, according to a spokesperson. You can make cash donations through their separate PayPal website to help support staffing needs, as refugee resettlement is expected to increase.
Finally, we ask that you pray for our residents, their families, the people of Afghanistan, and all refugees seeking safe shelter.