City Manager Ed Augustus and Mayor Joe Petty announced in the beginning of September that the City of Worcester is prepared to welcome 300 to 350 Afghan refugees. Since the announcement, efforts have been ramping up to provide support and assistance to the incoming families.

The exact timeline for when the Afghans’  are expected to arrive is currently unknown, but the efforts to prepare continue to go underway.

The United Way of Central Massachusetts has pledged $100,000 to seed the fund’s support for refugees from Afghanistan, according to the organization’s President and CEO, Tim Garvin. Garvin said that the money is part of the funds the organization received from billionaire Mackenzie Scott last year.

“The United Way’s Afghan Refugee Fund was created so that the organization will be able to welcome refugees from Afghanistan and help get them settled in our community,” A press release stated. “The United Way of Central Massachusetts is committed to financially supporting and coordinating this effort.” 

Worcester-based Ascentria Care Alliance, along with the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center, will be the primary point of support for the refugees, according to Garvin. The money will be used for infrastructure and capacity.

Garvin said that they are hoping to raise around $750,000. In the past month, $600,000 has been raised. 

A group of about 20 people from the community have been meeting each Friday to share their concerns and updates on the support efforts for the refugees, according to Garvin. The small group has been trying to raise more money to ensure that the refugees have everything they need when they arrive.

Other funds are now being collected to support housing, transportation, clothing, and other necessities. The Greater Worcester Community Foundation has donated $100,000. 

The Fish Family Foundation is also stepping up to help. It issued a fundraising challenge and will match donations $5,000 and under, for up to a total of $100,000.  Garvin said that the support is an incentive for local people to also contribute what they can to the community effort.

“The United Way is poised to once again answer the call for action,” Garvin said. “Thank you to the Fish Family Foundation for creating this challenge, which will certainly bring in many gifts to the fund.”

Most recently, the Joy Guru Humanitarian Services Foundation, which is led by Dr. Satya Mitra and his wife Sheema, have contributed $50,000.

“Our mission is to provide help and bring hopes in the faces of those who feel helpless and hopeless,” Mitra wrote in a press release. “We are passionate about it and determined to dedicate the rest of our lives in serving the needy people. When we were informed about the possibility of refugees from Afghanistan arriving in Worcester and of the willingness of our Mayor and City Manager to welcome them with our unique warmth…We felt it was time for us to rise[.]”

Mitra wrote that the Afghani refugees have supported the United States’ soldiers within their own country, so he and his wife unanimously felt that it was time for them to step forward and support not only the community of Worcester but also the new members who are coming soon.

“Dr. Mitra and his organization have been a longstanding partner with a variety of charitable efforts in the city and this contribution of $50,000 helps provide case management services, assist in finding housing, and a variety of other services for incoming refugees,” Mayor Petty said.

In addition to monetary assistance, Garvin said that businesses are also gearing up in Worcester to hire the Afghani refugees. This will not only allow them independence and quicker acceptance within the community, but it can also help with the amount of money and resources that the fund needs to procure. 

“Businesses call us and say when the refugees are here we’d like to prioritize hiring them,” Garvin said. “They’re then a part of the community. That’s what we want.”

For further information and to donate to the fund, go to Donate to Afghan Refugee Fund (classy.org) or donate via Venmo to @unitedwaycm.