We, at CENTRALongmont and St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Boulder, have the wonderful privilege of
co-sponsoring an Afghan refugee family as they transition from the upheaval of leaving Kabul in August of 2021, to becoming residents of Colorado.  The family includes Atika (the mother), her 19-year-old son Jamil, and her 4-year-old daughter Maryam; Atika’s 26-year-old son Ali, his wife Tamana, and their 2-year-old son Baktaj; and Atika’s 23-year-old daughter, Tube, her husband Aziz, and their 6-month-old baby girl.  Atika’s husband and another son were separated from the family during the chaos of the evacuation.  They left with almost nothing but the clothes on their backs.  The initial work of resettling the family was done by Lutheran Family Services which, historically, has been instrumental in resettling many individuals and families in the United States.  LFS is currently overwhelmed, however, and having to depend on other entities—chief among them being churches—to stand in the gap.  The needs are great.  

Together, St. Andrew and CENTRALongmont have created a sponsorship team made up of members from both congregations. This dedicated group is helping the family navigate health and social services, school enrollment, the local economy, and immigration, as well as housing and employment.  Volunteers support their English learning and help provide transportation during the week.  The courage, resilience, warmth, and kindness this family shows inspires our sponsorship team daily. 

The refugee resettlement system is overwhelmed and backlogged right now, so the adults in the family were seriously delayed in receiving work permits.  Although they have work lined up at King Soopers, only two adults have been able to start working part-time.  They are anxious to work but they cannot begin until they receive these documents, and we don’t know when that will be.  Through LFS, their rent is covered for six months with the intent that they begin work during this time and have a few months to save money.  This family is already over halfway through that time with no indication of when they will be able to begin work.  

In response, we have created a support fund that will be shared with the family as they establish themselves in Boulder County, transition into the workforce and lose their initial financial aid.  If you would like to contribute to this fund, please click on the button below.  Checks can also be mailed to:

CENTRALongmont

402 Kimbark St

Longmont, CO 80501

Please make checks payable to CENTRALongmont with Afghan Family Support written in the memo line.

How else can you help right now?  With prayer.  Pray for this young family during this difficult transition in their lives.  And pray for their family members and loved ones, that have not yet made it out of Afghanistan.  Thanks for your caring.