Helping Afghan Refugees

The current situation in Afghanistan has left all of us asking, “How can we help?”

One Maryland-based organization says it’s prepared to help some of the Afghan refugees resettle. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) will help our allies when they are approved by the government for resettlement in the U.S.

LIRS will continue its work with special immigrant visas (SIV), providing support as refugees enter the country, especially in the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia region.

Delegate Brian Chisholm and I are collecting donations at RockWell Fitness for the rest of September to assist Afghan refugees. RockWell Fitness is located at 551 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard in Severna Park. Inside RockWell Fitness, you will find a bin that you can leave such donations in. At the end of each week, we will take donations to the LIRS Maryland office located at 3799 East-West Highway in Hyattsville.

If you’d like to donate new or gently used clothing, hygiene products and household/kitchen necessities, you are welcome to drop off those items at RockWell Fitness. If you know anyone else who has the heart to help, pass this along to them. If transportation is an issue, we can stop by and pick up donations when possible.

Also, the Maryland Office of Refugees and Asylees works with a network of public and private service providers to aid interpreters and their families in becoming self-sufficient as quickly as possible. If you know someone who needs assistance, contact the Office of Refugees and Asylees immediately.

I express my sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of our service members and the Afghan civilians harmed by the recent suicide attack.

Thank you to the brave men and women who have put their lives on the line. With much gratitude, thank you to my constituents who have reached out to my office with a desire to help.

If I can be of service to you or your families, please reach my office at 410-841-3551.