Welcoming Afghan Refugees:
How to Partner with Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains
Donations:
First and foremost we are seeking financial assistance. Monetary donations provide the maximum flexibility as we await the arrival of families and are able to determine exactly what is needed.
To donate to LFSRM visit lfsrm.org/afghan-refugees
Donating Household Items or Furniture:
New Items
Denver – To purchase new household items please visit our Amazon wish list at: https://a.co/g8PkY3p. Bedding sets and pot/pan sets are a priority need; items ship to LFSRM staff person.
Colorado Springs – Amazon wish list: https://a.co/bWpMlVD. Our priority needs are bedding sets, pots/pan sets, and lamps.
Greeley – Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlistls/2U48TK6SNBNE9?ref_=wl_share;
Please note, items purchased from the Amazon Wish Lists ship directly to LFSRM.
Gently Used Household Items or Furniture
Denver – Please contact our Donations Coordinator, Luis, at 303-525-5020. Please allow up to one week for a response. We have received many inquiries in this area and we have limited storage space, please understand that we may not be able to accept your donation.
• If you have small basic household goods (bedding, towels, kitchen items), you can drop them off on certain dates at our warehouse at 520 Raritan Way, Denver, CO. Dates for drop offs in the coming weeks are forthcoming.
Colorado Springs – Please contact Matthew Cramm at 719-572-7397 or by email at Matthew.Cramm@lfsrm.org. Please allow up to one week for a response. We have received many inquiries in this area and we have limited storage space, please understand that we may not be able to accept your donation. We are also unable to designate donations for specific groups.
• Small household items may be dropped off to our office at 315 N Weber Street 80903. We recommend that you call in advance to ensure someone will be available to meet you. Please contact Matthew Cramm at 719-572-7397 or by email at Matthew.Cramm@lfsrm.org to schedule.
Greeley – Please contact Alex Kloehn at 303-345-4567 or email alex.kloehn@lfsrm.org. Please allow up to one week for a response. We have received many inquiries in this area and we have limited storage space, please understand that we may not be able to accept your donation. Due to booked schedules, donation pickups may be unavailable at this time.
• Small household items may be dropped off to our office. Please contact Alex Kloehn at 303-345-4567 or alex.kloehn@lfsrm.org to schedule a drop off time.
Albuquerque – We are currently accepting gently used and OPERATIONAL smartphones, laptops, and chrome books with chargers. These items may be dropped off at The Narvaez Law Firm, 601 Rio Grande NW, Albuquerque, 87104 between 9 am – 5 pm Monday thru Friday.
Volunteer/Cultural Mentoring:
Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Greeley, Las Cruces & Santa Fe – We are in need of Cultural Mentor volunteers. Each mentor team of 4-6 volunteers is matched with a new refugee family in the Metro Denver area (mostly Aurora and Thornton), Colorado Springs. Greeley or Albuquerque. Mentors make a commitment of 6 months/ with a minimum of 4 -6 hours per month, but more hours are appreciated. Register for a volunteer informational session here: lfsrm.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Housing:
Denver – If you are a landlord and are interested in renting a unit to a refugee family in the Denver Metro area, please email our Housing Coordinator, Danielle.winter@lfsrm.org.
• We are currently keeping a list of those interested in providing temporary housing (~2 weeks, free of charge). However, this is a limited need at this time as the timing of arrivals is uncertain. Please email our Housing Coordinator, Danielle.Winter@lfsrm.org, with your contact information, and she will contact you within the next 1-2 weeks.
Colorado Springs – If you are a landlord and are interested in renting a unit to a refugee family in Colorado Springs, please contact Matthew Cramm at 719-572-7397 or by email at Matthew.Cramm@lfsrm.org.
• Colorado Springs is not collecting names for temporary housing.
Greeley – If you are a landlord and are interested in renting a unit to a refugee family in Northern Colorado, please contact Alex Kloehn at 303-345-4567 or alex.kloehn@lfsrm.org.
• To be added to the list to provide temporary housing please email alex.kloehn@lfsrm.org with details on location of housing, your contact info, and other relevant requests. Your information will be added to a list. The need for temporary housing depends on how quickly the arrival process happens and is hard to predict. You will be contacted only if there is a demand for temporary housing.
Albuquerque – If you are a landlord and are interested in renting a unit to a refugee family in New Mexico, please contact Kori Ann Sanchez at koriann.sanchez@lfsrm.org.
• To be added to the list to provide temporary housing please email koriann.sanchez@lfsrm.org with details on location of housing, your contact info, and other relevant requests. Your information will be added to a list. The need for temporary housing depends on how quickly the arrival process happens and is hard to predict. You will be contacted only if there is a demand for temporary housing.
Las Cruces, Santa Fe– If you are a landlord and are interested in renting a unit to a refugee family in New Mexico, please contact Andrew Byrd at andrew.byrd@lfsrm.org.
• To be added to the list to provide temporary housing please email andrew.byrd@lfsrm.org with details on location of housing, your contact info, and other relevant requests. Your information will be added to a list. The need for temporary housing depends on how quickly the arrival process happens and is hard to predict. You will be contacted only if there is a demand for temporary housing.
Employ Refugees:
Refugee employees are qualified to work in a wide array of settings. To learn more about how the LFSRM Refugee Employment program can serve as a business solution for your company, contact us at:
Denver – Email: Katherine Koch at katherine.koch@lfsrm.org or Alula Arega alula.arega@lfsrm.org.
Colorado Springs – Email: Linette Ramirez at linette.ramirez@lfsrm.org.
Greeley – Email: Alex Kloehn at alex.kloehn@lfsrm.org.
Albuquerque – Email: Jeff Hall at jeff.hall@lfsrm.org.
Las Cruces, Santa Fe – Email: Andrew Byrd at andrew.byrd@lfsrm.org.
Advocacy:
· Contact your elected officials to express your support for Afghans, including changing federal regulations to extend Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) funded benefits and services, as well as SNAP (food stamps), to those entering the U.S. with parole status (rather than SIV or refugee status).
· Advocacy toolkit: https://www.lirs.org/emergency-evacuation-afghan-allies-action-alert
· You can contact any member of the Colorado or New Mexico delegations (Senate or House). Please note, if you are in Colorado’s 6th District, as a former Army Ranger who served in Afghanistan, Representative Jason Crow has been extremely active in sponsoring bipartisan legislation to protect Afghans.