Hearts and Homes

January 2020

Hearts and Homes for Refugees is partnering with ICNAW (the Interfaith Council for New Americans - Westchester) to to sponsor an urgent case -- an SIV (Special Immigrant Visa) family from Afghanistan. The father, an engineer, worked with U.S. troops and is considered a traitor by insurgents because of it. The situation is escalating and he, along with his wife and three children (ages 10, 5, and three months), are in grave danger as tensions in their area of Afghanistan are rising. Too often, there are stories of these SIV families who do not get out in time. He and his family were vetted for four years by U.S. authorities, and at long last, their visas have been approved.

In the next few weeks, we will be preparing for the arrival of this family. We need to raise money for their first year needs and bring back our seasoned volunteers (and welcome new ones!) to help with their resettlement as soon as possible.

Financial needs: We are asking for donations that will enable this family to start their life here with the basic necessities—housing, food, medical needs, clothing/household goods, transportation, and education assistance. Immediate individual donations are urgently needed. If you are a member of a faith or civic group that might consider raising funds for a group donation, that would be very much welcome as well. Click here to donate online. To donate by check, please make it out to "Hearts and Homes for Refugees" and mail to P.O. Box 8558, Pelham, NY 10803 with the note "SIV Family Resettlement."

Volunteer needs: It is impossible to resettle families without volunteers. Please consider lending a hand or two! Let us know you are interested by clicking here and filling out the form. As you know, housing and employment are critical early needs, so please share any contacts or ideas. (For housing, we are looking for a two-bedroom apartment in White Plains.) These families often come with urgent dental and medical needs and having those services donated has been a life-saver in the past. We also cannot resettle refugees without all-important volunteer drivers.

August 2019

This week, we are staying local. A refugee family from The Gambia recently lost their home in the Bronx to a devastating fire in which they lost everything they had. They just found a new apartment, but literally have nothing. There are two parents and five children, ages 19 months to 20 years old, with two school-aged children, 10 and 12 years old.

Hearts and Homes for Refugees is seeking help for this family, including setting up a Refugee Emergency Fund that they will be able to use for this family and others in equally dire circumstances. Checks can made out to Hearts and Homes for Refugees and mailed to: Hearts and Homes for Refugees, P.O. Box 8558, Pelham, NY 10803. Please write Refugee Emergency Fund in the memo line.

In addition, we will be collecting school supplies for the two school-aged children. For families struggling to make ends meet at the best of times, school supplies are a huge expense and represent a real financial burden. In order for us to make a meaningful difference, this project needs to be carefully coordinated. We are currently waiting on school lists, etc. Email Irina Kimelfeld at ikimelfeld@gmail.com if you are interested in participating.