Helping Those Who Helped Our Military
Helping Those Who Helped Our Military
A donation drive to gather items for refugee arrivals is being organized in Ellicottville.
The images were visceral.
Desperate mothers throwing babies over barbed wire fences, praying the American soldiers catching would ferry them to safety. Frantic crowds pushing and shoving at the gates to the Kabul airport, not knowing if those amongst them were hopeful escapees or imminent detonations. A rip-your-heart-out video clip of Afghans clinging to the exterior of an almost airborne military transport plane, a last-ditch effort to escape the hellscape awaiting them.
Things have only deteriorated since the pullout. The Taliban, barbaric and backwards, harbingers of cruelty and ruthlessness, reasserting control of a nation with the strength of an iron fist and a dominance fueled by fear. Women who proudly walked the streets and went to school now hopelessly understand those days are behind them. For many Afghans, the lives they knew the past 20 years under the blanket of American protection has swiftly — and darkly — changed.
As Americans, we are quick to point fingers across the aisle. But this is not an issue of Democrats versus Republicans. One party cannot be blamed fully for the abysmal handling of the situation in Afghanistan, because the blame lies unequivocally on the shoulders of the entire federal government.
The Afghans lucky enough to board planes helped American and coalition forces in ways that put them in constant danger. They were translators and informants, invaluable pieces to the complex puzzle that was our presence in Afghanistan.
And now, they need our help.
Over 300 Afghans will resettle in the Buffalo and Western New York area. They are refugees by definition, but not in the eyes of the government. Because of the urgency of their evacuation, those coming are labeled “humanitarian parolees.” It means they are not afforded the same benefits refugees are — no assistance for food, housing, mental health, or other necessities.
Buffalo has many nicknames, but none make its people more proud than “The City of Good Neighbors.” And in the Afghans’ greatest moment of need, a collective will answer the call.
Lauren Maguire is the director of development and communication at the International Institute of Buffalo, an organization that for the past 100 years has dedicated itself to helping immigrants and refugees. The Institute will partner with Catholic Charities of Buffalo, Jericho Road Community Health Center, Jewish Family Services and Journey’s End Refugee Services to provide support for the incoming Afghans.
“The five of us have over 400 years of collective experience helping immigrants,” Maguire said. “This will be the first time we’ve come together to form a collaborative and creative response.”
The unique label given to the Afghans makes an already delicate situation all that much more so. When a refugee enters the United States — a process that takes anywhere from 24-36 months — they are given access to a safety net. The Afghans will not be afforded that same net, instead a single check for around $1,200. They will not be eligible to work and earn to support themselves and their families, and it will be months before their status changes.
“One of the many challenges is the loose guidance of when to expect them,” Maguire said. “The family sizes and compositions are ambiguous. Our plan is to provide temporary and transitional housing in places that are in close proximity to the organizations that can support them.”
While the physical needs are apparent — food, housing, medicine — there are some that lie beneath the surface — mental and emotional health.
“These are people that have experienced deep trauma,” Maguire said. “There’s a compression of time. Typically, there’s some time between the trauma refugees experience and their entrance into the United States. For these Afghans, they’ve experienced the trauma of leaving and then being housed at military bases. We anticipate meeting not just their physical needs, but emotional and mental as well. Jewish Family Services has an extremely well-regarded and expert program in trauma for refugees, and they are prepared to train others across the collective.”
A common misconception — and criticism — is that allowing these people into a community will put a drain on its resources.
“When refugees come into the country, they are the most intensely vetted. What’s happening now, the Afghans are going through a very thorough safety and health vetting before relocation. And the latest Census data showed Buffalo experienced population growth for the first time in 50 years. The foreign born population is growing, and that means a larger tax base. So not only is there a moral imperative, but an economic one as well.”
Maguire says the collective has raised close to $60,000 and that number continues to increase by the hour. At this time, financial donations are preferred, as it allows the collective to be more nimble with its support.
Ellicottville residents Mary Klahn and Kimberly Orth have each reached out to local organizations — churches and the American Legion, in particular — to help raise money for this admirable endeavor. Keep an eye posted to local groups for more information on how you can help.
“At the end of the day, these are human beings,” Maguire said. “Envision yourself in their position. They seek what we all seek — safety, a roof over their heads, food to feed their family. It’s our responsibility not just as western New Yorkers, but Americans. We know that our community will respond in a positive and uplifting way.”
To donate — no matter the amount, as every dollar counts — and for more information, head to www.wnyrac.org.
