The Porsche club has been so generous over the years, and I reach out again….
As you are likely aware, 75,000 refugees have recently arrived in our country from Afghanistan…over 2000 of these are being resettled in Maryland. The purpose of this message concerns 200 refugees, including 40 families, currently residing temporarily in two extended care Anne Arundel County motels near BWI airport.
Three weeks ago, a small number of our county residents visited these two motels and were abso- lutely ASTOUNDED by the total lack of support these new residents were receiving by our govern- ment and/or the NGO in place to facilitate their resettlement process. I was one of these visitors and, along with several others, felt an urgent need to jump in to help provide food, clothing, guidance and, most importantly, welcoming love and compassion. We understand that this huge number of refugees hitting our shores all at once places the NGOs in a very difficult position to ramp up staff- ing to meet the demand…thus we feel compelled to help bridge gaps in any way we can.
We know that our beloved founder, Linda Greenburg, would have fully engaged our all-volunteer organization in this humanitarian process…thus we will be focused on this for at least the next several months. One way we can help is by funding some of the items that are essential that the refugees are not currently able to provide for themselves….short term independent housing, tools needed to navigate day to day life such as laptops, chrome books for the children, phones, transportation, out of pocket medical expenses, ESL training etc.
I am working with so many families, but we have a large family of 8 with a disabled child that needs permanent housing immediately. They were moved from the hotel into a very high crime, low- income apt complex. They are very scared. Your support is greatly needed.
If you are able to help, our website is accepting tax deductible contributions at www.homelessdrive.org, when you donate, under addition information please choose Porsche Club so you are recognized. Checks can be mailed to:
Giving Back
Post Office Box 461
Severna Park, MD 21146
In addition to this, there are other important ways you might be able to help….in kind donations (furniture and other household items, autos with useful life remaining, other) and time to assist in certain related tasks.
FYI…for anyone having access to Facebook, we have set up a page to updates and related info ….
https://www.facebook.com/BWI-Afghan-Welcoming-Coordination-Efforts-114443111143834/
Many thanks for your generous support over the years….we hope you can join us now in helping provide a dignified welcome to these friends and allies of our fellow countrymen and women serving in Afghanistan the past several years.