Last Fall Homewood Friends Peace and Social Justice (P&SJ) Committee began preparations to help Afghan families resettle in Baltimore. The Meeting set aside part of our fund for peace and social justice for this purpose. 

In the winter and spring of 2022 we set up apartments for three Afghan families. Pulling together all household items needed for these apartments involved collecting and organizing furniture, kitchen supplies and other household goods. We worked in collaboration with the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). 

In May we received this note from the IRC staff person after a family moved into the apartment we set up for them. 

I just wanted to let you know that yesterday I got to help the family move into the apartment you set up. They loved the beautiful home you made for them. It was fun watching the six kids bouncing around the place, eating the fruit and snacks you left for them, and playing with the toys. I almost fell over laughing when the littlest one was running the toy fire engine all over the apartment with the sounds going. She was having such a good time.

Then the kids discovered that your team included an antenna with the TV, and I was able to find MPT cartoons for them. All six of them settled down (for a few minutes) in the living room watching TV while IRC staffers were giving their parents the safety and info briefing for the apartment.

Please pass this note to your Meeting, and once again, thank you for organizing this project. You gave a family a happy home to raise their children.

Now the P&SJ Committee is turning their attention to providing social support for Afghan families as they make the difficult transition to supporting themselves in Baltimore. A special thank you goes to Jean Athey and the rest of the Peace and Social Justice Committee for their leadership and hard work on this big project.