Tikkun Olam: K.A.R.E. Project

Introducing the KARE Project – Kol Ami Refugee Engagement Project

Kol Ami’s KARE project, launched at Rosh Hashanah 2022, is continuing into a second year. We hope you will be a part of it!

Through the KARE Project, Kol Ami is making a commitment to support some Afghan Refugees who have settled in our area. These new neighbors helped serve the US in their old home country and now they need our help in their new home country. These brave men, women, and children are starting over again from scratch; many have very little and face steep challenges in getting settled and building new lives. If you can think of something, they probably need it, from cash to household furnishings to transportation to just even friendly faces. That’s where we come in.

In 2022-23 we worked with several families and a few different organizations to help these new neighbors become part of our community. Members of our congregation taught English; took families to the food pantry and on grocery store shopping trips; helped with resume-writing and job-hunting; provided families with clothes, furniture, and other items (including a car!); and donated their time and money. Some of us volunteered on a regular, weekly basis, and others helped out when they could, answering the call when a need arose. It was truly a community effort, and while many of us wished we could have done more, we collectively contributed mightily and we should be proud of our achievement.

We plan to re-double our efforts this coming year. We will continue helping out on an as-needed basis, as our partners often contact us with specific one-time needs (seeking a donation or a ride somewhere, for instance). Helping Afghan refugee families can include: driving to and from a doctor’s appointment; conversing in English to help improve language skills; helping create resumes or complete job applications; shopping for some groceries or household items; etc. There’s no minimum (or maximum) time commitment and actual tasks will be worked out with you and our new friends as we go along.

In addition, there is an ongoing need for tutoring for Afghan students on a weekly basis. Please fill out this form for Fall 2023 and reach out directly to NoVA RAFT if you’d like to participate or would like more information.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact our coordinator, at .