The scenes out of Afghanistan were heartbreaking. Our country engaged in a refugee evacuation of great magnitude and Jewish Family Service of San Diego continues to be actively involved. The number and pace of resettlement is like nothing we’ve seen in recent years. Together, with our partners, we are actively working to reunite families and provide the resources and connections they need to build new independent lives safe from harm.
Jewish Family Service stands ready to Welcome the Stranger with dignity and respect and is actively assisting Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and Parolee arrivals from Afghanistan. As one of the primary refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego, JFS has already resettled 277 individuals comprising 76 families* from Afghanistan since August 6. Our staff and volunteers will remain at-the-ready to accept more families in the coming days, weeks, and months.
*Updated November 15, 2021
We are grateful to the many partners, supporters, and volunteers who make this vital humanitarian work possible. Together we ensure that San Diego remains a welcoming place for those in search of a safer life—free from violence and persecution. Your support will provide stability and hope—empowering refugees to build brighter futures for their families.
The men, women, and children who fled Afghanistan escaped with little to no belongings and continue to arrive to our community with barely more than the clothes on their backs. And while Afghanistan may no longer be a hot topic on the nightly news, our humanitarian efforts have not stopped. There are many more still waiting to come to the United States who were first relocated to military bases and other countries.
As new refugees make their way to San Diego, additional support will be needed beyond their first 90 days to successfully navigate a new country, learn a new language, complete immigration documents, enroll their children in school, apply for work and more. Together we can provide vital aid, guidance, and support so our newest neighbors can find the freedom everyone deserves.
If you are looking for ways show your support, please make a donation to the JFS Welcome the Stranger Fund. Your gift makes our vital humanitarian response possible—empowering refugees to rebuild their lives and welcoming immigrants with compassion.
Thank you to the media who are calling attention to our efforts.
U.S. Refugee Organizations Race to Prepare for Influx of Afghans
The Wall Street Journal
Local Organizations Help Afghan Refugees Resettle
ABC 10 News San Diego
Two More San Diego County Families on Their Way Home From Afghanistan
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Your financial donations are needed now more than ever to ensure we have the proper staffing and the resources to support new refugees.
JFS is partnering with Avodah to place a Jewish Service Corps Member with our Refugee Resettlement Department. If you’re between the ages of 21-26 and passionate about getting into the justice game for the long haul, you could have a place in our growing community. For more information, visit Avodah.
Looking for a way to help support refugees? Volunteer with JFS as a Refugee Resettlement Case Aid. Our case aids help support a range of services from assisting with the delivery of household items to assisting clients navigate community institutions.
To learn more and sign up: Click here
Thank you to so many in our community for their generous response. Presently, we have an incredible number of community drives scheduled in the upcoming weeks. As a result, we are putting a pause on requesting additional in-kind donations, such as furniture. Right now, the most impactful way you can show your support is to make a monetary gift which will help to fund the tremendous number of additional resources that are needed to welcome with compassion and dignity.
Thank you for your continued support.
