Helping our Neighbors
Afghan Refugees
Grocery Store Gift Cards
Many of you have reached out to ask how we can support Afghan families who have been relocated to the area. We are so grateful for Restoration’s generous willingness to honor and love our neighbors. Two members of our congregation, Lauren Kuykendall and Karen McNeilly, have been volunteering at Lutheran Social Services on behalf of Afghan refugee families in the area. Several families have struggled to obtain food assistance, while they wait for their paperwork to clear for SNAP and other food assistance programs.
If you would like to support these families, please purchase gift cards from Giant (the closest grocery store with some Helal options) or VISA gift cards and bring them to church. Contact Scott to let him know you are dropping them off. You can also mail them to the church: Restoration Anglican Church c/o Rev. Scott Buckhout – 1815 N Quincy St. Arlington, VA 22207. He will coordinate the hand off to the families.
Ways to Give: We are grateful for the work of Lutheran Social Services and OneHeartDC who have created ways to meaningfully give to the needs of Afghans in our midst.
VERY URGENT Needs:
- Laptops – NEW only
- Smart Phones – NEW or refurbished only
- Tablets – NEW only
- Gift cards (Uber, Lyft, Target, Walmart, Visa)
The need for phones and laptops is particularly important. People can’t find jobs, register their kids for school, or communicate without computers and phones. Computers are expensive, so churches might consider hosting a computer or telephone drive at their church and assign one person to drop off the collected items.
Other Needs:
- Pressure Cookers
- Electric tea kettles
- Irons
- Ironing Boards
- Pots and Pan sets (NOT dishes, they have a ton)
- Queen sheet sets (NOT COMFORTERS OR BLANKETS)
- Twin sheet sets (NOT COMFORTERS OR BLANKETS)
- Tea towels (kitchen towels)
- Towel sets
- Washcloths
- Cleaning supplies
- Luggage
- Vacuum cleaner
If you would like to donate any of these items, please contact Scott Buckhout – scott@restoratioarlington.org
