“I lost my mind this week.”

When I texted my Afghan friend that “…this must be painfully hard,” that’s how she answered. She’s trying to get her parents out of Kabul, and she was hoping I could help.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about our visit from the State Department, but I don’t have a direct line to them! Never have I wished for that kind of connection like I do now.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so helpless.

I imagine many of you feel the same. If you want to help and don’t know how, we’ve come up with a list of organizations that are working hard to help. Of course, this is not a magic wand to fix a horrendous circumstance, but it’s something (but there will be no enduring help without a multitude of people pitching in to help).

Here are a few links from friends:

• Miles4Migrants raises funds for airfare. They have a page that directly supports Afghanistan.
• I just spoke with the folks at Preemptive Love Coalition. They are “directly and swiftly committing funds” to Afghanistan – no details other than that just yet, but I know they are trustworthy people who do what they say they will do in some of the hardest places to reach and serve in the world.
• Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security {GIWPS} has set up a fund to evacuate women out of Afghanistan. They are asking for a minimum donation of $1000, so this is one you might want to give to with friends.

Now for a lot more! We don’t have personal relationships with the following, but they come from a highly recommended Instagram account,  @TheSlowFactory:

• GoFundMe- Emergency Relief In Afghanistan
• Charmagz Library
• Mothers of Afghanistan
• Srow Zar Children @educatethechildrenaf
• Children Without Borders und Watan Project
• Afghanistan: A call for urgent help – Omar Haidari
• Emergency Relief for Displaced Afghans – Mina Sharif
• Helping the displaced families of war in Kandahar – Omaid Farooqi
• Fundraiser to Help IDPs in Afghanistan – Fundraiser for Help Build Tomorrow by Jawaid Kotwal and Tariq Eshaaq
• Emergency Help for LGBTQ Afghans in Afghanistan by Qais Munhazim, Wazina Zondon & Bobuq Sayed
• Relief for Internally Displaced Afghans by @khyberkhaan
• Emergency Aid for Victims of the Taliban Attacks by Baba Mazari Foundation Inc
• “Tent village” in downtown Kabul serving 40 displaced families by PARSA (Mina Sharif)
• Afghanistan emergency appeal by @Avizeh
• Fundraiser 4 Afghanistan – by Visions for children
• Emergency Funds for Afghan Artists by AAAWA
• Afghanistan Crisis Emergency Appeal
• Fundraiser for North Afghanistan by Léma Wardak
• Afghanischer Frauenverein
• Support displaced Afghan families by Felice Sosan
• Afghan Street Kids

This list can grow. If you know of an organization that is addressing the current crisis directly, shoot me an email. As more ways to help emerge, we will share.

Let’s stand together,

Kitti

{Photo by Chase Moore from our “Standing with our Muslim Neighbors” vigil following the Christ Church Mosque shootings in 2019}