BACI Joins Forces to Help Afghan Evacuees
INDIANAPOLIS, November 24, 2021 — The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) has officially joined communities in the US that are welcoming and resettling the Afghan parolees who were recently evacuated from Afghanistan.
Coordinated by Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), in which various federal agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services are participating, over 82,000 Afghans have been housed initially at military bases across the United States – also known as Safe Havens. These include Camp Atterbury, where 7,200 Afghans were placed initially. These newcomers will be resettled into communities across the US by early 2022.
“As much as we recognize our responsibilities, we are humbled and grateful for this opportunity to be joining the welcoming communities — coming together and doing whatever we can to help ensure a safe, secure, and dignified resettlement of our Afghan newcomers as they begin their successful journey towards self-sufficiency and long-term integration,” said Elaisa Vahnie, Executive Director of BACI. “This is how some of the most pressing issues and greatest needs around the world can be effectively addressed – in a win-win”.
As a community partner of the Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc. (ECDC) and U.S. Department of State, BACI will be delivering the Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) service —channeled through its Center for Integration and Community Development. This will involve provision of resettlement and placement services to new arrivals, including but not limited to secure housing and basic necessities during the first 30-90 days, as well as providing cultural orientation, assistance in enrolling in education programs, legal assistance in adjusting immigration status, employment services, and various referrals as needed by families enrolled in the program.
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Donations in support of our Afghan newcomers can be made online:
1) QuickPay® with Zelle® transfer to: info@baci-indy.org
(Please include the program name in your Memo, i.e. APA or to support Afghans)
2) Donate via PayPal
Donation with a Debit or Credit Card accepted.
or
3) It can be mailed to the BACI office at the below address:
Burmese American Community Institute
4925 Shelby Street, SUITE 200, Indianapolis, IN 46227
- One of the most convenient ways to donate household items is by using this Amazon Wish List.
- To inquire about volunteer opportunities, please fill out the volunteer interest form at: https://thebaci.org/get-involved/
BACI also accepts new and gently used household items, including the items currently listed on our website. The items we are most in need of include:
- Beds and mattresses
- Couches
- Dining tables and chairs
- Kitchen-sized trash cans
- Shower curtain tension rods
- Mops
- Brooms
- Plungers
- Toilet Brushes
- Winter coats
- Other household items
Donations of materials in new or good condition can be dropped off at our office at the address provided above during office hours (9:00 AM through 5:00 PM). Some weekends are also possible. Please contact Alecia Binhack with any questions at abinhack@thebaci.org or call us at 317-731-5537.
