Afghan refugees in Westchester to share their stories

Last week the U.S. government launched the Welcome Corps, a program to help Americans sponsor and resettle refugees in their communities. That’s welcome news for Reshad and Zulfar Ahmadi, who fled Afghanistan with their two children in 2017 — after being targeted by Taliban insurgents — and built new lives in Westchester. They were supported by members of the Jewish Community Center of Harrison (JCCH), working with the nonprofit HIAS.

“It’s not easy for a refugee to leave everything behind: your homeland, your friends, your family,” Zulfar said. “The JCCH members made our journey so much easier. Every detail was taken care of, from finding and furnishing a home to enrolling our children in school. We felt blessed to know there are good-hearted people who understand the pain a refugee feels and want to help.”

The Ahmadis have flourished in Westchester and recently bought a home in White Plains, but they always worried about those left behind in Afghanistan — especially after the Taliban retook control in August 2021.

Fortunately, in October 2021, nine family members — Zulfar’s sister, brother-in-law and nieces and Reshad’s parents and siblings — were able to escape to a refugee camp in the United Arab Emirates. They made their way to White Plains last fall with help from HIAS and resettlement committees from JCCH and Community Synagogue of Rye (CSR).

On Friday, Feb. 3, during a special service at CSR, Reshad Ahmadi and his sister-in-law Wagma Stanikzai will share details about their escapes from Kabul and their new lives in Westchester. The next day, Zulfar, her sister Wagma Stanikzai, her sister-in-law Frohar Ahmadi and her mother-in-law Zakera Ahmadi will join services at the Jewish Community Center of Harrison to talk about their journeys as refugees and their concern for women in their homeland under Taliban rule.

Both events are part of Refugee Shabbat 2023, a global project organized by HIAS. Hundreds of congregations and organizations around the world are expected to participate to raise awareness about the plight of refugees worldwide.

— The Feb. 3 services at Community Synagogue of Rye, 200 Forest Ave., Rye, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and can be joined in person or through Zoom.

— The Feb. 4 services at the Jewish Community Center of Harrison, 130 Union Ave., Harrison, will begin at 9:30 a.m. and can be joined in person or through Zoom.

For more information or for Zoom links to the services, contact Barbara Gaynes at barbaragaynes@gmail.com or 329-9674.

Tax-deductible contributions to support the Ahmadi and Stanikzai families can be made through their GoFundMe campaign. (https://gofund. me/16c86381)

Who Qualifies for EITC?

10am–5pm | last open appt 4pm

Last Day: April 17 | last open appt 4pm

• Appointments Only

• English & Spanish

• Site reserves the right to require a mask due to COVID

Ossining High School, Room 202

29 South Highland Avenue, Ossining, NY 10562

Dates/Times: February 6 to April 17

Mondays: 4pm–8pm | last open appt 7pm

Last Day: April 17 | last open appt 7pm

• Appointments and Walk-ins

• English and Spanish

• Site reserves the right to require a mask due to COVID

Closed: Feb. 20, March 13, April 3, and April 10

Westchester Community College (Gateway Center)

75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, NY 10595

Dates/Times: February 1 to April 17

Mon. & Wed.: 9am–5pm | last open appt 4:00pm

Last Day: April 17 | last open appt 4:00pm

• English and Spanish

• Appointments only for students, families, and alumni. Visitors must check in at the Visitors’ Checkin Desk in the Gateway Center Lobby.

• Site reserves the right to require a mask due to COVID

The potential maximum tax credit includes federal, state and New York City credits and depends on income, marital status and number of qualifying children in the household. Qualifying children can be a son, daughter, grandchild, adopted child, step child or foster child as long as the child is under 19 years of age, under the age of 24 if a full-time student, or be permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year. The child must have the same principal residence as the taxpayer for more than half the tax year and not provide more than one-half of his/her own support for the year.

Earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) must each be less than:

• $53,057 ($59,187 if Married Filing Jointly) with three or more qualifying children

• $49,399 ($55,529 if Married Filing Jointly) with two qualifying children

• $43,492 ($49,622 if Married Filing Jointly) with one qualifying child

• $16,480 ($22,610 if Married Filing Jointly) with no qualifying child

The maximum EITC for 2022:

• $6,935 with three or more qualifying children

• $6,164 with two qualifying children

• $3,733 with one qualifying child

• $560 with no qualifying child

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free Tax Prep program is a national initiative sponsored by the IRS and the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to help low- and moderate-income residents qualify for federal and state earned income tax credits (EITC).