Our hearts are with our troops and the people of Afghanistan. 
We are devastated and horrified by the abhorrent attacks that have rattled the Kabul airport. We are taking this time to mourn the victims of this senseless attack, and we pray for their families amid this unthinkable loss.

This act must be condemned in no uncertain terms. It has undoubtedly struck fear into the hearts of those who have loved ones in Afghanistan, as well as those who are desperate to reach safety. Our hearts, prayers, and hopes are with them.

A Special Welcome


Welcome to This Week at LIRS, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's weekly e-newsletter. Every Friday, we catch you up on what's new at LIRS—from upcoming events to media appearances, important immigration updates, and more. 

We know that many of you are new to the LIRS family after signing up to volunteer in support of our Afghan neighbors. We’ve had more than 40,000 volunteer applications and hundreds of offers for help since last Sunday, and we want to extend our sincerest gratitude for your care, compassion, and action. We hope that our weekly newsletter will keep you engaged with and informed about the work of LIRS while we work with our partners on the ground to place and train volunteers.

Thank you!
 
Today, LIRS CEO Krish O'Mara Vignarajah spoke to Anderson Cooper on CNN about the tragedy in Kabul and continued evacuation efforts. As she said on Twitter, "history will judge us on how many we evacuate, but also how many we leave behind."

Watch the segment. 
On August 25, LIRS kicked off a donation drive for our Afghan friends at our headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. 

For those in the Baltimore area, LIRS is asking for in-kind donations of basic necessities, including gift cards from major retailers, backpacks, school supplies, diapers, laptops in working condition, cellphones and SIM cards, kitchen utensils, dishware, linens, and cleaning supplies. 

We will be collecting donations on the front plaza of our headquarters at 700 Light Street in Baltimore from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. ET on August 27, 30, and 31 and September 1-3.  

For those outside of the Baltimore area that would like to offer in-kind donations, we encourage you to get in touch with the LIRS affiliate nearest to you. A list of our affiliate offices can be found here.  

Watch the press conference.
NEXT WEEK: On Tuesday, August 31, we invite you to join LIRS and our interfaith partners at 4 pm ET for Solidarity and Sacred Silence Interfaith Prayer Vigil: Afghanistan, an opportunity to hold space for our friends impacted by what’s happening in Afghanistan and prepare ourselves to be part of a kind and compassionate welcome. 

Register today. 
What happens when our Afghan neighbors arrive in the United States? Check out our new video, which explains the warm welcome LIRS and our partners provide—beginning the moment new Americans land at the airport. 

Watch the video. 
On Tuesday, we held our informational webinar, "The Afghan Crisis: How to Help Our Neighbors." If you missed the event or would like to share it with friends, family, or community, please check out the recording!  

Watch the recording.
TAKE ACTION TODAY! Make your voice heard and urge the administration to provide immediate humanitarian protection and evacuation for the thousands of Afghan allies still in Afghanistan who served the U.S. mission faithfully and fought for the protection of women's right, human rights, and journalists.

Send a message to the White House and Congress.
We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to some of the many generous organizations that have supported LIRS's work with our Afghan neighbors, including: 
  • AirBnB
  • The Molly Steinsapir Foundation through the #TEAMMOLLY #GiveUpGiveBack Challenge
  • Vet Voice Foundation
  • The Walmart Foundation
...and so many more! 
Our need is now more urgent than ever. If you haven't had a chance to contribute to the Neighbors in Need: Afghan Allies fund, we ask that you consider doing so today. Tens of thousands of our Afghan neighbors are arriving in the United States and are in need of basic necessities such as food, housing, and medical care as they await the services available to them. 

Donate today.
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel! 
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