Saugus Welcomes seeks community help for an Afghan refugee family living in town

  (Editor’s Note: Members of the East Saugus Methodist Church and a volunteer group known as Saugus Welcomes issued the following letter this week, reaching out to the Saugus community.)

  In December 2021, the Saugus community welcomed an Afghan refugee family. The father of the family had been employed by the U.S. government in Kabul; however, the fall of the Afghan government and takeover by the Taliban put the family in jeopardy. Our government evacuated them in the massive airlift in August 2021. They left everything behind, arriving with only what they could bring in a few suitcases.

  The family of parents and six children is currently being housed by the East Saugus United Methodist Church.

  Saugus Welcomes, a multi-denominational, volunteer group, is assisting them to resettle in our community. The family spoke almost no English when they arrived. Members of Saugus Welcomes are providing English lessons, transportation for medical visits and grocery shopping, and other similar assistance.

  The four school aged children love school and are doing well as they quickly learn English. Their father works full time at Target, biking a few miles to and from work daily since the family has no car.

  The federal refugee benefits provided for the first year after resettlement will expire at the end of 2022. The family will rely on the father’s wages, food stamps, and some state aid to pay for rent, food, clothing, and necessities. This assistance is insufficient to support a family of eight in Saugus. Saugus Welcomes asks for your financial support to help our neighbors as they integrate into American life and become self-sustaining, contributing members of our community. Funds raised will go toward rent, utilities, food, and other necessities of life.

  Donations can be made by check payable to the East Saugus United Methodist Church, with “Afghan Fund” noted on the memo line, and mailed to the church at 85 Chestnut Street, Saugus MA 01906 or via Paypal at paypal.me/eastsaugusumc or @eastsaugusumc and note “Afghan Fund” in the message.

  If you would like to learn more about this effort, please contact Pastor Pat Oduor at patriciaoduor@hotmail.com.

  “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)