Afghan Refugee Assistance

First Afghan Refugees Welcomes to Boston by Members of St. Mary Orthodox Church Cambridge, MA

Working with St. Mary Orthodox Church, Cambridge, MA, the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health, and the Boston Afghan Community, Kataluma Refugee Hospitality Seeks Generosity of Boston Families and Businesses to Support the Needs of Arriving Afghan Families

The first Afghan evacuee family to come to the Massachusetts area was welcomed by members of St. Mary Orthodox Church, Cambridge MA. in conjunction with Kataluma Refugee Hospitality (www.kataluma.org), enthusiastic members of the Boston Afghan community and The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health (www.brooklinecenter.org)

The couple, former residents of Kabul, worked in security at the Kabul airport. The organizations and volunteers provided them and their active toddler, with comfortable lodging, food, toiletries, clothes and translation services on their first day in Boston, during which they also found a playground, a Halal store and watched the T go by.  Local area businesses also welcomed the family:

Helmand Afghan Restaurant, Cambridge: Molana Persian Restaurant, Watertown; Ariana Afghan Restaurant, Brighton  Schwarma King, Brookline

The family was joined by another refugee family with three children that arrived late Sunday night.  Both families are being temporarily housed with financial assistance from the Brookline Center's Care Connections program.

“The urgent, immediate task is to quickly find short term lodgings in the Greater Boston Area near public transportation, “ said Gary Moorehead of Kataluma Refugee Hospitality.  “ Practical support, property management and a case worker would be provided.

Anyone with leads on apartments, homes or available in-law suites is asked to email Gary at home@kataluma.org or call: 617 460 9409.  St Mary’s Contact is Natasha Smith nasmith05@gmail.com. Concurrently, Kataluma is searching for a large home to welcome refugees and documented asylum seekers as they transition to life in the US.

Kataluma Refugee Hospitality is a non-profit, church-oriented community seeking to establish or support model houses that provide (a)  transitional lodgings for newly arrived refugees, and (b) settings for local residents and others to learn about & practice hospitality.

 Kataluma a 503B non profit, relies on the generous support of donors and friends to partner with us in welcoming refugees with housing, meals and friendship.  All in-kind or monetary donations are tax deductible.  Donations and offers to volunteer may be made on our website.