Assisting Afghans fleeing to safety

I was a stranger and you welcomed me

Afghans fleeing to safety

Parishioners answered the call to provide warm clothing for Afghans at Ft. Lee; one had a particularly moving shopping experience

In mid-October, St. Stephen’s vestry member Martha Sherman ventured out to purchase items from a list of urgent needs for Afghan refugees housed at Ft. Lee. Like many St. Stephen’s parishioners, Martha was moved by the perilous journey that led these men, women, and children from their home country to the United States. Afghan citizens who had assisted U.S. forces during America’s longest war were in grave danger because of that activity, and many—along with their families—were permitted to come to this country. Many St. Stephen’s parishioners already know the Ahmadi family, whose resettlement from Afghanistan to Richmond we helped facilitate under similar circumstances several years ago. The family—which has grown to five!—is doing very well here. Since early fall, outreach director Ron Brown has worked with officials at Ft. Lee and non-governmental organizations to determine how St. Stephen’s Church could help provide clothing for the coming winter, as well as other needs of Afghans who left everything behind. After Ron provided a list of these needs, our parishioners stepped up in a big way to fill them. Martha initially thought she’d go to a “big box” store to buy items from the list. Daunted by the idea of fighting large crowds, though, she decided to visit Dillard’s department store at Stony Point Fashion Park. Her first stop was the men’s clothing department. A salesperson approached her, and when she showed him the list and

explained why she was there, he sprang into action. Though Martha did not ask the salesperson his country of origin, not wanting to pry, she noticed his accent and thought the man might be from or near a Middle Eastern country. After he finished ringing up her purchases, he asked, “You said you are doing this through your church?” Martha answered yes, and identified our church. He answered, “God bless you.” Then Martha headed to another department to purchase items for women and girls. There she met another helpful Martha Sherman salesperson—this one having an accent similar to the salesman’s in the men’s department. The salesperson seemed to have an excellent grasp of what was needed and where to find it, Martha noted. This young woman was so enthusiastic about Martha’s mission that she called a manager who came to the department to help. Another saleswoman also pitched in. Martha sensed that everyone at Dillard’s who helped her that day was deeply moved—and so was she. Many thanks to Martha and to all from St. Stephen’s (as well as All Saints’, Holy Comforter, and St. Paul’s churches) who so generously responded to the call to clothe our new neighbors. And thanks be to God for the enthusiastic way that employees of Dillard’s got into the spirit with us! So often when we see images and reports of human suffering— whether among refugees or victims of natural disasters or those affected by violence or injustice—we want to help, and we simply do not know how. When we have a way to show our love and support—as we did in this instance—we are grateful.

Sarah Bartenstein