(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 5/18/2022) – The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK), in partnership with St. John’s Episcopal Church, today announced the opening of the Afghan Refugee Resource Center to serve the more than 1,000 Afghan parolees who have been resettled to Oklahoma City since September 2021.
WHAT: Refugee Resource Center
WHERE: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 5401 N. Brookline Ave., Oklahoma City
WHEN: Open Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM
TO SCHEDULE: Family sponsors, case managers, and other support teams for Afghan families may visit the resource center during its scheduled hours by emailing Jen Hund at jHund@cair.com to confirm.
TO DONATE: https://cairoklahoma-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1166983
“Helping those in need is central to putting faith into action. We are so pleased that our Afghan newcomers can now see all of our resources before choosing what works best for their families,” said Jen Hund, CAIR-OK Refugee Services Coordinator. “Because of the large number of families served, we will continue relying on community support to keep the center stocked with much-needed items.”
SEE: Supporting Afghan Refugees in Oklahoma
https://www.cairoklahoma.com/afghan-refugees/
SEE: Afghan Refugee Amazon Wishlist for Items to Purchase for Resource Center
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/MYPXYILYFJS4?ref_=wl_share
“St. John’s found the neighborly work of CAIR to be a perfect match for the kind of outreach that is part and parcel of the bedrock of charity that guides the Christian life,” said Fr. Natahan Carr, St. John’s Episcopal Church. “We see our new neighbors as a gift to this city and our space as the kind of asset that spurs on the kind of community that characterizes the life of faith.”
The Refugee Resource Center is a space contained within the St. John’s Episcopal Church facility in which Afghan families and their sponsors may select clothing, including cultural clothing donated by local Muslim families; certain hygiene items; and other household needs. Funding for the Resource Center was generously provided by the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA).
SEE: APPNA Oklahoma Chapter
https://www.appnaok.org/
Since its soft opening on April 25, 2022, the Refugee Resource Center has served more than 40 families, a total of 250 people, with clothing and other household goods. Other families continue to seek out resources as they settle into long-term housing, enroll in local public schools, and join the workforce.
Ongoing needs for Afghan families include transportation to important appointments and events; legal services to help meet immigration needs; and additional support teams to help families navigate their new lives in Oklahoma City.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.