Note from Miry:
As of this week, a total of 291 resettling families have graduated from our 2-year program since our founding in 2016. When a family graduates, we don''t say goodbye, but rather, our relationship changes. They become part of the Miry''s List Alumni Community, where we continue growing our bond, deepening our commitment to improving the lives of resettling refugees in the United States, and of course, helping more families. It is critically important that families who have benefitted from our programming are active participants in improving Miry''s List for the families who come after them. Some people, including Ahmed Abedy, author of the letter to you below, go beyond volunteering and join our team to continue the cycle of giving.
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August 11, 2020
Dear friends,
Like many of the families served by Miry''s List, my family and I arrived in the US in late 2018. It was dramatic and life-changing.
I am a dad who served the US mission in Iraq for 17 years. My job exposed me and my family to real danger. I lived in fear of the daily likelihood that I wouldn''t make it back home in the evening.
Back in Iraq, it was me, my beautiful wife and our 3 kids. In 2016, a life-changing event happened: My kids lost their mom after a severe fight with cancer. This tragedy, and living through it, is just indescribable. At the time, we had no grandparents around and no local relatives, so I had to distribute my kids among friends'' houses. The time was filled with cultural and social struggles, and finally I met a wonderful woman who elevated our family and brought hope back into our lives! She became my 2nd wife, and stepmother to my children. She is physically disabled from a gunshot to her leg she endured coming back home from school. She lives in chronic physical pain and I am here she is here for us. Together, we have built a new life for ourselves in America.
Being part of the Miry''s List community has been a calming, hopeful relief to my family''s past 17 years of difficulties and pain. Joining this community meant the world to us. And it isn''t just the housewarming presents and essential supplies we received to help us start our lives over. Also, it''s the love, emotional support, and kindness. This was far beyond our expectations. Miry''s List lifted us from below and raised us to the highest point in the sky by showing us this support.
As soon as we were enrolled in Miry''s List, life began changing. Little by little, we began thriving. Within the first month, I was offered a very prestigious job with the San Diego Association of Government as a Contracts and Procurement Analyst. A dream job for me, transitioning us to self-sufficiency and making good use of my Masters in Engineering to benefit our new community. Our kids started to pick up the language really quick and now they often enjoy laughing at their dad's accent! Just a few months after our arrival, we welcomed our 4th child, the first American-born member of our family.
Can you imagine my feeling of gratitude to see my kids growing up in a community shaped by a model of kindness, generosity and human connection? Once, my eldest kids told me they want to be like Miry when they grow up!
Once we graduated from the program, I was invited to join the team to do my part paying it forward and helping our new families. At that point, I thought Miry''s List was just Miry and a few dedicated volunteers filling our world with their unlimited love. I soon learned how wrong I was.
I learned that Miry''s List is made up of a huge network of wonderful people, yourself included, that Miry and the team built in the last 4 years. I learned that Miry''s List helps families create a wishlist, then they assigned the lists to dedicated volunteers who help ensure that each family''s needs are met.
Together we are creating an unprecedented connection between American people and their resettling neighbors. I want you to know that although you might not get a direct thank you from the family themselves, know that they are deeply grateful, as we all are. You are here behind the scenes, changing people's lives with every gift purchased and dollar donated.
We share below our Hive Around Five, featuring five new arrival families who need our help. Take a few moments of joy and send a gift to 1, 2, or all of the families featured right here below. Don''t forget to write a gift message, because the family will read it and know you are there.
Much love and thanks,
Ahmed Abedy, Field Coordinator, Miry''s List
ahmed@miryslist.org
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Five new arrival families who need our help to get the things, people, and services they need to feel safe and normal. How you can help right now:
- Send a gift to one, two, or all of these families we''ve shared below. Write a gift message and tell them welcome!
- Share this newsletter with friends who should know, and amplify this message. Tag us @miryslist everywhere and #hivearoundfive
- Donate directly to Miry''s List to invest in this platform that makes our impact possible.
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Welcome, Hotak Family
- The Hotak are mom and dad with 2 kids from Afghanistan.
- They arrived in the beginning of March 2020 and settled in Modesto, California.
- Dad used to work as a caterer and waiter in Kabul. He is currently unemployed and actively seeking a job. Kids are learning remotely.
- The family is still experiencing the early days of arrival struggles, particularly because they''re doing it during a pandemic. They are trying their best toward a drivers license and they hope to be able to get a car to facilitate the family needs.
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Welcome, Jana Family
- The Jana family is a single mother with two sons (6 and 7 years old) and one daughter (5 years old).
- Dad was a translator for the U.S. Army until his recent, unfortunate passing.
- They arrived from Afghanistan to New Haven, Connecticut in January 2020.
- Mom is currently learning English but is unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The family's most urgent needs are basic household necessities (bedding, mattresses, kitchen supplies) and Visa gift cards (to be used to purchase clothing and hygiene products).
- The oldest child, 7-year-old Abasin, loves the color blue and aspires to become an engineer when he grows up so that he can help his mom!
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Welcome, Akbari Family
- The Akbari is a large family of 8 from Afghanistan.They are Mom, Dad, 2 girls and 4 boys.
- They arrived in March, 2020, and settled in California.
- Dad was previously an electrician. He is urgently seeking for a job in the midst of COVID.
- All the family members need beds and devices to help with their online ESL classes.
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Welcome, Sami Family
- This young family is Mom, Dad and three children (ages 5, 3, and 8 months!).
- They arrived state side in 2019.
- Dad is an experienced graphic designer and GIS officer with USAID projects in Afghanistan.
- The family is in need of a few items to help in the upcoming school year and communicating with loved ones.
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Welcome, Hayati Family
- A large family from Afghanistan, Mom, Dad and 6 children ages 4 - 15 years old.
- They arrived on first of February 2020 and resettled in Washington.
- Mom and Dad never went to school. Dad worked as carpenter with US companies projects back home. Dad is actively seeking employment but opportunities are sparse during the pandemic.
- They are in need of basic supplies for their house and bed for the parents.
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Want to do more? Here''s how:
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1. Donate Monthly: Support our core programming by making a tax-deductible donation to Miry''s List.
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2. Learn: Read our just-published 2019 Annual Report Available now on Issuu
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3. Relentless generosity: Join our emergency action campaign for 50 more resettling families.
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QUARANTINE WITH ABDULLAH, 9
Abdullah arrived to Los Angeles for resettlement with his parents and little sister in 2018. Since then, he''s learned not one, but two new languages- English and Spanish- and he recently discovered an affinity for martial artist Bruce Lee. Abdullah hopes to continue learning Kung Fu and dreams of becoming a Police Officer.
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KEEP GOING: 2020 World Refugee Day with Miry''s List
Highlights from our 2020 World Refugee Day Awards with Milana Vayntrub, Evan Kleiman, Supervisor Hilda Solis, Mara Wilson, Dlan Dary, Ahmed Abbas, Rabia Ahmadi.
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