Ways to help Afghan refugees in western Washington

Nonprofits, organizations, and individuals across the Puget Sound are working to help Afghans in danger through various services.

Afghan Health Initiative - Contact: info@afghanhealth.org or 253-237-6214

Afghan Health Initiative is a King County-based nonprofit advocating for immigrant and refugee communities. In light of the recent events in Afghanistan, the nonprofit is shifting the majority of its focus to help incoming refugees.

“Our Afghan folk have reached out to us directly who are planning to resettle in our cities, and we have been contacted by organizations large and small if we can support them with housing, emergency finances, health care, and overall resettlement assistance. As a small community-based nonprofit directly connected to our folks, we know that our new refugee community members will need emergency assistance, aid, healthcare, and basic needs resources,” the organization stated.

The nonprofit is accepting donations in a variety of ways:

• Emergency Fund for Newly Arrived Afghan Refugees: “Resettlement assistance is limited and only lasts a maximum of 90 days,” the group stated. “Under the pandemic, we know refugees will not be fully resettled or have income from a job by then.
• Essential Items for Infants, Children, and Expecting Mothers
• House Items and Furniture
• Groceries

The nonprofit also helps operate a Masjid/Islamic Center located at 12608 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, 98031.

Jewish Family Service of Seattle (JFS) - Contact: Donor Relations Coordination - donate@jfsseattle.org or 206-861-3150

The Seattle-based nonprofit is accepting donations to help individuals and families arriving from Afghanistan. It also created an Amazon Gift List to provide new and needed items for refugees.

GoFundMe: Save Moneer and Our Allies from the Taliban

This GoFundMe was initially started by Greg Adams, a former Green Beret living in Seattle, to help get his interpreter, Moneer, out of Afghanistan. While Moneer was able to get out, the GoFundMe is continuing to stay active to help others, including about 20 families that Adams and former Army Ranger Matt ‘Griff’ Griffin are actively helping escape.

World Relief Seattle

The King County-based nonprofit is seeking donations and volunteers to help incoming Afghan refugees.

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

The nationwide nonprofit seeks volunteers to help with airport pickups, apartment setups, or bringing meals for incoming Afghan refugees in Seattle and Tacoma.

No One Left Behind - Contact: info@nooneleft.org

The nationwide nonprofit states its mission is “ensuring that America keeps its promise to our interpreters from Iraq and Afghanistan.” The nonprofit has been helping pull interpreters from Afghanistan since the U.S. announced its own exit.

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