Helping Refugees from Afghanistan
Many churches across the state have a history of welcoming refugees and immigrants and we witnessed a compassionate response to the crisis in Afghanistan. Over a two week period in August 2021, tens of thousands of Afghans were airlifted directly to the United States and brought to processing centers at military bases around the country. Fort McCoy in Wisconsin was home to the largest population of evacuees with as many as 13,000 people.
With the overwhelming task of caring for and resettling so many people, the Wisconsin Council of Churches got involved in order to help connect congregations and their members to the agencies and organizations hard at work. This program recruited and coordinated volunteers for the Morale, Wellness, and Recreation mission at Fort McCoy and provided assistance to congregations and community groups looking to help with refugee relief and resettlement.
As the process of resettlement moved out of the centers and into communities, we assisted our Wisconsin refugee resettlement agencies with volunteer recruitment and resources. Our member congregations furnished homes and provided services throughout the state, helping our partner agencies as they resettled over 1,000 Afghans and 900 new refugee arrivals in 2021-2022. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we gave over $40,000 in grants to six projects serving Afghans. We also provided up to date information and consultation to congregations discerning their role in refugee resettlement.
This project concluded on December 31,2022, with gratitude for all of our partners and volunteers, and with a commitment to continue supporting the evolving and important work of refugee resettlement in Wisconsin.
Resources are provided below. For further assistance or consultation with your church/community, contact us at volunteer@wichurches.org.
Useful Links:
- The United Church of Christ Refugee and Migration ministries, (library of webinars and resources)
- WCC Workshop on Cultural Competency
- Welcome.US (resource hub and portal for private sponsorship)
- WCC Wednesday: Afghan Refugees in Wisconsin (from August 25, 2021)
- WCC Wednesday: LSS Introduction to Refugee Resettlement (from October 20, 2021)
- WCC Wednesday: A Local Pastor Shares About Church Doing Refugee Cosponsorship (from February 23, 2022)
- Introduction to Islam with Othman Atta (webinar from the WCC)
- Afghanistan: What did we achieve? What is the Status of Women? What about the evacuees and what does the future hold? (webinar from the WCC)
- Path to Resettlement (resource for the WI Department of Children and Families) Defines a refugee, explains the process of resettlement and links to organizations doing the work in Wisconsin
- Sermon Seeds: Prayer and Protection from Cheryl Lindsay (United Church of Christ)
- Liturgy and Worship Outline for Refugee Worship Service (Rev. Michelle Henrichs, Heritage Presbyterian Church)
Resettlement Agencies, Coalitions, and Communities in Wisconsin
- North West Wisconsin – Welcoming New Neighbors is an interfaith community coalition based in Eau Claire, serving new arrivals to the United States.
- East-Central Wisconsin – Catholic Charities resettles refugees in and around Green Bay. World Relief resettles refugees in Appleton and Oshkosh.
- Central Wisconsin – New Beginnings for Refugees resettles refugees in and around Wausau.
- South West Wisconsin – Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program, Inc (SWCAP) resettled several Afghans in and around Platteville, in partnership with Church World Service.
- South Central Wisconsin – Jewish Social Services resettles refugees in Madison, supported by congregations and volunteers through Open Doors For Refugees.
- South East Wisconsin – Lutheran Social Services and International Institute of Wisconsin resettle refugees in Milwaukee. Hanan Refugee Relief Group and Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition provide services and support to the refugee communities in Milwaukee.
Selections from the Afghan Response Newsletter Archive
- Cosponsoring Refugees
- Global Displacement Crisis, UN Resettlement Response, and US Resettlement System
- World Refugee Day Resources
- Legal Issues for Afghans, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants
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- April 29, 2022
- August 12, 2022 (The Afghan Adjustment Act)
- September 9, 2022 (The Afghan Adjustment Act and Advocacy)
- October 28, 2022 (Immigration Concerns)
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- Concerning Current Conditions and Those Left Behind in Afghanistan
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- August 5, 2022 (One Year Post-Evacuation)
- October 14, 2022
- November 4, 2022
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While this project has concluded, your donations help us continue to respond to emergent needs across the state.