By Scott Edger
Little Apple Post
As the community prepares to receive another group of Afghan refugees, the Manhattan Afghan Resettlement Team is busy gathering resources for the new arrivals.
To that end, MART is partnering with the Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity for a furniture drive.
People wishing to donate gently used furniture and household items can drop them off at Habitat at 514 Pillsbury Drive in Manhattan Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Just indicate the item is for the Afghan resettlement when it is dropped off.
Josh Brewer, executive director of Manhattan Habitat for Humanity, said that his group is working in conjunction with others to help current and arriving refugees gradually obtain full, gainful employment and develop their ability to purchase an affordable home.
“We believe it is totally feasible for them,” he said. “We are trying to surround them with the services they need to overcome the language barrier.”
Brewer said that a couple recently arrived refugees have already been employed by Good Witch Cleaning in Manhattan. He is not certain when or how many more will arrive.
“We just know more are coming,” Brewer said. “It’s hard to get much clarity down the pipeline.”
Habitat’s primary mission is construction of affordable homes for Riley and Pottawattamie Counties.
Habitat for Humanity sells donated inventory to fund the construction of affordable homes for limited-income working families, so taking on the project to furnish refugee homes places a welcome but burdensome challenge on the organization dependent entirely on those donations.
“Habitat is lucky enough to work with a community that welcomes refugees,” Brewer said. “We really need the community’s support.”