Lisa Meadows, left, and Mark Meadows of the Warsaw Afghan Help Group pose with some supplies to help Afghan refugees in Fort Wayne. The public can help by donating items at several sites this week or at churches on Sunday, March 6. Photo provided.

News Release

WARSAW — The Warsaw Afghan Help Group is helping organize the collection of necessities for Afghan refugees in Fort Wayne.

As refugees first arrive in Fort Wayne, they live at the Cabrini Center, which is a former retirement facility that’s been remodeled. The goal is to provide temporary housing there until permanent housing becomes available. Supplies are needed to restock diminished supplies at the Cabrini Center and to help refugees set up their individual housing as they transition to it.

Items needed include:

Household cleaning supplies

• Brooms
• Mops
• Trash bags
• Dish soap
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Laundry detergent

Personal items/toiletries

• Bar soap
• Body wash
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Lotion
• Deodorant
• Feminine products
• Tissues
• Hair ties
• Brushes
• Comb

Clothing items

• Socks
• Underwear

Kitchen items

• Microwaves
• Rice cookers
• Pots and pans
• Glassware

Linens

• White twin sheet sets
• White queen sheet sets
• Twin and queen comforters
• Pillows
• Throw blankets
• Bath towels
• Baby crib sheets

Cabrini Center Supervisor Brittany Young said some items are needed more than others.

“We have a complete list of supplies that will help us, but the most needed items from it are: Toilet paper, paper towels, comforters, pillows, sheets and microwave ovens,” she said.

The Cabrini Center prefers donated items to be new and unopened.

The community can donate from now through Friday, March 4, by taking items to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 125 N. Harrison St., Warsaw. Items may be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day until March 4. Donors should ring the bell if the doors are not open.

Items may also be taken to the Habitat ReSale store, 3970 Corridor Drive, Warsaw, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5.

In addition, seven Warsaw churches are having a collection day on Sunday, March 6. Those include: Branches Vineyard Church, First United Methodist Church, Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Valley Springs Fellowship, Walnut Creek United Methodist Church and Warsaw Community Church.

Church members can drop off items at their respective buildings on that date.

In addition, New Life Christian Church and World Outreach of Warsaw and Valley Springs Fellowship have made monetary donations for members of the local help group to purchase supplies on behalf of those congregations.

All donated supplies will be taken directly to the Cabrini Center next next week following Sunday’s collection day.

“Take note of the refugees fleeing Ukraine this week. Most are escaping with very little to no personal possessions. These are the circumstances our new Afghan neighbors have experienced, and it’s why it is so important for us to give,” noted Warsaw Afghan Help Group member Dick Rooker.

“I love my Warsaw group. They have stepped up in so many ways from helping prepare the Cabrini Center to now helping supply our new friends. I cannot say ‘Thank you’ enough,” said Young.