Welcome refugees and others resettling in the DC area
KindWorks puts together warm new homes for people starting over in our area—including newly arriving refugees as well as those rebuilding following fires, floods, and other dire circumstances. Join us as we transform an empty apartment into a thoughtfully furnished and decorated home—complete with “extras” to meet the recipient’s needs, whether that’s warm coats, a fridge full of food, or a culturally appropriate welcome meal!
There are many ways to help—as a donor or as a volunteer, serving one time or on a continuing basis. Every home setup varies, based on the needs of the family, but here are some of our most frequent needs:
Specific needs are detailed in any upcoming “welcoming ways” activities shown at right (or below when viewing on a mobile device). If there are no projects listed, or there are no volunteer slots available, and you wish to get a jump start with helping on our next home setup, complete this form.
Here are some of the types of household furnishings KindWorks often needs for refugee home setups. Please note that the apartments we help with cannot fit breakfronts, armoires, and other large furniture sized for a single-family home.
Items in bold are on our most wanted list!
Every home KindWorks sets up relies upon donors like you to supply the full range of items that make an apartment comfortable and livable—from sofas to lamps to cleaning supplies.
Because specific items vary depending on each family’s needs and the apartment space we’re working with (and the fact that we have very limited storage space and access to moving equipment), we are often only able to accept furniture and other household donations when we are preparing for a known home setup or are actively in the process of setting up a home.
To learn about donation needs associated with an active home setup, click the link(s) for any planned home setups listed on this page, above. Then, sign up to deliver any furnishings still needed.
If there are no upcoming opportunities posted, or if you have items to donate that aren’t needed for any listed projects or furniture that requires pickup, please let us know what you have so we can advise you of what we might be able to accept and when.
Email Deb with details about your donation, including
Please note that our ability to accept furniture donations is determined by current need, available volunteer labor, and very limited storage space. We appreciate your understanding.
Furniture donated for our apartment setup projects must be in at least very good condition, with no chips, tears, or stains. Other household goods should be new or very gently used. In addition, all donations must be clean and completely free of pet hair, cobwebs, and cigarette smoke.
(and the pantry too!)
When a newly arriving refugee family walks through their new home set up by KindWorks volunteers, they find not only a comfy living space, but also all the essential groceries they need to get started in their new life.
You can make this possible by volunteering to provide the items needed to fill the fridge and pantry for a resettling family. To sign up for this important role, click the link(s) to any planned home setups listed on this page, above, to reserve your donor spot. If there are no upcoming opportunities posted or grocery needs have already been filled, email us and we’ll save you a spot for a future home setup.
At shopping time, bring along the following list (and a friend or two perhaps), and plan to deliver everything just before the family arrives.
No time to shop, but want to help? Donate online to help fund our home setups or any other projects you choose to designate.
Groceries needed for a family of three; please multiply as needed to fit the size of the family that you will be supporting:
The Finishing Touch:
Provide a newly arriving Afghan family a meal from your heart by preparing a welcome dinner featuring the flavors and dishes they have known their whole lives. This is a perfect activity for a family or a group of friends who like to learn new recipes and hang out in the kitchen together!
KindWorks welcome dinners are delivered to the refugee homes we set up as well as through local resettlement agencies serving multiple families. (If you’re from outside the DC area and want to prepare welcome dinners for newly arriving families in your area, email us and we’ll give you the information you need to contact the resettlement agencies near you.)
It doesn’t matter whether you know your kebabs from your qormas, KindWorks makes it fun, easy, and meaningful to prepare a delicious Afghan welcome dinner. Just follow these five steps:
More ways to help! If you’re unable to cook but would still like to provide a homemade meal to Afghan refugees, you can donate online to our home setups fund and contribute towards purchase of ingredients for our welcome dinners.
These companies have generously donated moving services that enable our home setup projects
Check out how KindWorks volunteers created a welcoming new home for three young adult cousins resettling in Maryland from Afghanistan.
See more on our KindWorks home setup playlist on YouTube.
