Support Afghan Refugees Resettling in the DMV Area

Below, we’ve compiled a list of local organizations and businesses where you can support newly arrived Afghans. We will continue to update this page as new resources and information about the crisis in Afghanistan and her refugees are available.

Ways to Donate to Help Afghan Refugees

Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington
ACSGW serves as a collective health and welfare service of several local congregations focusing on helping with welcoming refugees to their new homes in the DMV region. They are only accepting financial donations via their website at this time.

Afghanistan Youth Relief Foundation 
4425 Brookfield Corporate Drive Ste. 600 Chantilly, Virginia 20151
AYRF has been acquiring donations to assist Afghan refugees in the Northern Virginia area. If you wish you may donate items.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington
Help support refugees who are settling in the DC/Virginia area.  You can sign up to volunteer, provide housing, counseling, or schedule a food drive.

ECDC African Community Center DC Metro – Helping Resettle Afghan Refugees
Working with both financial donations and in-kind donations through their Amazon Wishlist, the ACCDC welcomes newly arrived Afghan families into their new homes as the organization helps them rebuild a new life in the DMV region.

Fairfax County, VA Information and Resources
Do you know someone who is a refugee, share with them this helpful Resource List to aid in access to services to meet basic needs.

Homes Not Borders
Homes Not Borders has been tirelessly working in the DMV area to seamlessly resettle newly arrived refugees into furnished homes stocked with household items and other essentials for each family. Currently accepting financial donations as well as purchases through their Amazon Wish List. At this time, they can only accept furniture donations.

Husayn for Humanity
Saber Zaher and Husayn for Humanity have been serving the refugees since they began arriving at Dulles Airport and are currently accepting donations through Venmo (Husayn-for-Humanity) or their Go Fund Me page.

KindWorks for Newly Arrived Refugees
KindWorks offers opportunities to mobilize volunteers into participating in their community. You can help welcome arriving Afghan refugees by participating in these ongoing projects:
KindWelcomeDinners (Cook or donate a Welcome Dinner for newly arriving Afghan refugees and families)
KindKitchens (Helps supply the family’s new home with food and pantry items)
KindExtras (Provides families with often needed, but rarely donated “extra” items for their new home)

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
LSS utilizes donations and volunteer resources to help welcome and set up new Afghan families to the National Capital area. You can donate monetarily online or check what donations are needed.

Solutions in Hometown Connections – SHC
SHC is working to welcome refugees and immigrants in the Maryland, Virginia, and DC area. Through a network of mentors, tutors, community groups, and volunteers, SHC hopes to provide a positive and safe environment leading to increased confidence and independence. You can help by donating monetarily or with your time.

Welcome To Maryland Fund – IRC
The International Rescue Committee established the fund to support Afghan refugee families fleeing the current crisis in their country to resettle in Maryland.

Volunteer Opportunities

AirBNB
AirBNB has connected with several nonprofits to help place newly arrived refugees in temporary housing as they work through the resettlement process. Hosts can offer their properties for this initiative. 

ECDC African Community Center – Volunteer Opportunities
The center helps connect local people with volunteer opportunities. You can sign up and learn about the current ways to help refugees.

For the Nations DC
For the Nations DC is a nonprofit ministry focusing on teaching English and other educational services to refugees, asylees, and immigrants. They are currently looking for volunteers to help with childcare, site host, adult ESOL teacher, Resource Director, Resource Helper, and tutoring coordinator. If you have any questions you can email at [email protected].

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
LIRS is currently calling for volunteers to help with Refugees being evacuated to the U.S. You can submit your interest in volunteering with the local DMV chapter.

Lutheran Social Services – Mentor and Trauma-informed Counseling
LSS is currently asking for professionals who can volunteer their services for counseling. Please follow their Volunteer application process.

Mustafa Center in Annandale, Virginia
The Center is helping compile stand-by volunteers to help with the resettlement of Afghan refugees who will be arriving to the US in the next few weeks and months to begin their new life.

Translation Services 
As the DMV region welcomes more Afghan refugees, Farsi and Dari translators are needed to assist at Dulles International Airport and the Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Capable people are asked to email [email protected] with subject line:  “Afghan Interpreters.”

World Relief
World Relief’s mission is to empower local churches to serve the vulnerable. You can volunteer or pass on information to any Afghans you know who need our help.

Local Businesses supporting The Resettlement Efforts of Afghans

The businesses listed here are accepting donations and/or contributing a portion of their proceeds to help with local efforts in supporting Afghans arriving in the DMV area. 

International Rescue Committee
Help by making a donation for Charlottesville, VA or Richmond, VA to help refugee families with housing, language interpretation, trauma-informed counseling, family reunification support and cash assistance for basic needs.

Marty’s Food and Catering and Adeoye Owolewa are partnering to help bring food to newly resettled refugees. Owolewa is a Nigerian-American politician, pharmacist, immigrant and says that now is the time to help our new neighbors. You can help by donating to their GoFundMe page.

Mozaic
Mozaic will be helping refugees by delivering meals to families that have been relocated. Please consider helping this non-profit by donating or volunteering.

World Central Kitchen
655 New York Ave NW, 6th Floor, Washington DC 20001 or via online
World Central Kitchen is accepting one time or monthly donations to help support fresh, hot meals for Afghan refugees.

Know of a local business or nonprofit helping with the resettling of Afghan refugees in the National Capital? Let us know by emailing [email protected].

Support organizations aiding in Afghanistan

Child Foundation
This international charity organization helps children in poverty remain in school. Partnering with Startupistan, Child Foundation helps promote empowerment through digital education. 

Emergency
Since 1999, Emergency has provided free, high-quality surgical and medical treatments to over 7.5 million Afghan civilians and continues to do so through the current crisis in country. Currently accepting financial donations to support their hospital centers in Afghanistan.

Global Giving’s Afghanistan Emergency Fund
Since 2002, Global Giving strives to connect nonprofits, donors, and companies around the world to support and serve communities. Global Giving’s Emergency fund will be used to help the most at risk – women, children, and activists – stay safe in Afghanistan now and in the long-term. 

International Medical Corps In Afghanistan
Established in 1984, by volunteer doctors and nurses, the International Medical Corps, addresses the critical need for medical care. Currently they are accepting donations to provide lifesaving medical services and training.

Islamic Relief USA
Islamic Relief has pledged $1 million to help Afghan families that are suffering through the current crisis. With your help, they are working towards distributing food aid, water storage units, hygiene kits, essential non-food items, and family-sized emergency tents and tools.  

Miles4Migrants
Miles4Migrants uses donated frequent flyer miles to help impacted civilians in the middle of crisis-riddled Afghanistan start over again in a new home.

Save The Children
Save the Children works in the hardest-to reach places. Today, they are accepting donations to help provide safe spaces and activities for children, supply nutritious food, and secure health care. 

United Way of the National Capital Area
The United Way NCA has launched Afghan Evacuees Response Fund to meet critical and basic needs of Afghan families. Funds provided short-term and long-term help. Check out the FAQs if you have further questions.

Vital Voices, in partnership with the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
A global effort, Vital Voices works with its partners to support emergency evacuations, housing and resettlement, and other priorities for women at risk in Afghanistan.

Women for Afghan Women
Women for Afghan Women is a grassroots organization with the goal to protect and promote the rights of disenfranchised Afghan women and girls, in Afghanistan and those who immigrated to New York . 

Women for Women International
Women for Women International provides foundational training to help Afghan women know and defend their rights, live mentally and physically healthy lives, and discover their power to be self-sufficient in their lives and with family.