Dear Neighbor,
Over the course of our evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, my office has worked tirelessly to submit cases for nearly 20,000 individuals in need of refuge in Afghanistan. As President Biden has made clear, the end of our military presence in Afghanistan does not mark the end of our efforts to evacuate Americans and our Afghan partners.
If you know someone in need of help, please don’t hesitate to call my office at (703) 256-3071.
I’ve heard from many of you looking for ways that you can assist those in need in Afghanistan. I’d like to take a moment to share with you some information regarding some ways the Department of State recommends the public get involved, as well as some information from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Veterans in our community for whom the past few weeks have been particularly difficult.
Department of State: How the Public Can Help
- It is the millions of people in local communities across the United States who ensure the success of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by welcoming and helping integrate refugees from around the world. We encourage people who are interested in assisting arriving Afghans to reach out to their local refugee resettlement agency to donate, volunteer, or even form community sponsorship teams. There are many opportunities to be involved in welcoming Afghans and helping them to rebuild their lives in the U.S.
- For a list of resettlement agency and affiliate contacts, please visit wrapsnet.org/resources/.
- To help Afghans in crisis around the world, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) has created a page that lists the U.S. and international organizations providing life-saving assistance. CIDI’s goal is to support donors and relief agencies as they work together to provide quick, effective, and efficient relief to people affected by disasters.
- For a list of U.S. and international nongovernmental organizations assisting Afghans around the world, please visit: https://www.cidi.org/disaster-responses/afghanistan.
- A broad network of private actors including but not limited to U.S. companies, philanthropies, universities, civil society organizations, faith-based communities, and veteran groups have expressed interest in a variety of ways to support Afghans, including funding and sponsorship, and as coordinators, and advocates/promoters of this effort. For more information, click here.
Department of Veterans Affairs: Resources for Veterans
- Vet Centers – Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
- Veterans Crisis Line – If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
- For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
- VA Women Veterans Call Center – Call or text 1-855-829-6636 (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 6:30PM ET)
- VA Caregiver Support Line – Call 1-855-260-3274 (M-F 8AM – 10PM & SAT 8AM – 5PM ET)
- Download VA’s self-help apps – Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
- VA Mental Health Services Guide – This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.
- MakeTheConnection.net – information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
Community Resources:
Veteran Service Organizations:
Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other, and remember that my office is here to help. Be sure to visit my website for more information and resources. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you need assistance, please don't hesitate to call us at (703) 256-3071.
