Plymouth Mosque Hosts Supply Drive for Afghan Refugees
A Plymouth mosque is hosting a supply drive for Afghan refugees this weekend.
Members of the Northwest Islamic Community Center in Plymouth are collecting food, clothing, hygiene products and other important items for Afghans who are expected to arrive in the area in the coming weeks.
“We have a lot of family in Afghanistan, our cousins have been calling my mom and reaching out and describing what was going on in that situation, and I just felt helpless,” said Sonia Anunciacion, who organized the supply drive. “I felt like I had to do something, and so we decided to organize a drive, donation drive, and get as much as we can in preparation for the refugees that arrive in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Volunteers collected items for Afghan refugees outside of the Northwest Islamic Community Center in Plymouth.
According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, up to 65 Afghans on Special Immigrant Visas may arrive in the state through the end of September. Minnesota has already welcomed about 35 Afghan refugees so far this month.
People donating to the supply drive Friday afternoon said they’re happy to help the cause.
“It’s really important for me,” said Melanie Haight, a donor from Plymouth. “I brought my girls to help them see that there are needs bigger than our own, and I want to be part of that and be able to help people who are maybe needing to start over and need some support in doing that.”
The Northwest Islamic Community Center is hosting another supply drive on Sunday, Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon.
If you can’t make it out to the supply drive on Sunday, you reach out to Sonia Anunciacion at sonia.sahar@gmail.com to arrange pickup or to get information on future donation opportunities. You can also buy items on an Amazon wishlist. All items will be donated to the refugees at Fort McCoy.
Drive organizers still need items such as modest clothing for women, clothing for men, toiletries and tea kettles.
