All - sorry for the really long post here in advance. Looking to see if anyone is interested in helping out. After my daughter was born at 25 weeks back in August, my company and this coworker were very supportive and I'm looking to try and return the favor as best I can. Not Aggie related, but this guy put his life on the line to help our military out and they now have nothing.
TLDR: I received an email from a coworker that her and her fiancee are looking to help a former interpreter from Afghanistan who barely got out of the country back in August. He and his family left with nothing and are currently up in Canada. He helped American and Canadian troops for around a decade I believe. They could use pretty much anything, but I think a donation is the easiest thing to provide since shipping anything up to Canada is not easy/cheap.
I've never done a gofundme type of thing, but my company has a charitable organization that can be used as a conduit to collect/sent any donation through that instead.
If you're interested, please PM me or email me at kbarron002@gmail.com. I don't know the best way to go about this so any advice/tips are welcome.
Below is the email received for more information. Again, sorry for the length.
Quote:
Some of you may know my fiance Stephen served as a Green Beret. I am sending out a note on behalf of our family, as his most-trusted interpreter, Parwiz, needs help. Parwiz was one of the lucky ones to leave Afghanistan with his wife and 2 young kids in late August. However, they truly left everything behind with the clothes on their backs and are in Ontario, Canada starting over. Over the weekend we exchanged messages and it came to my attention they are without winter boots and coats for the family. To put it in perspective, he takes his 4 & 5 year old on the 45 minute walk each way to Walmart in order to buy food. I have never been to Canada but I suspect that is a great way to get sick without the correct gear. If you feel called, please consider if yourself, or others in your contact list or community may have some of the below items or the wish to provide support otherwise to this family as they start anew. Parwiz served as a translator for U.S. and Canadian forces long after Stephen's year in Afghanistan ended and has waited for almost ten years to receive a Special Immigrant Visa before this summer's events escalated
Here is an article in The Peterborough Examiner about their journey from Afghanistan:
Below is a copy of the email message Stephen has prepared for friends and family explaining the current situation we are trying to help with.
I am writing to see if you or anyone you know may have some items they could send to my former interpreter from Afghanistan who needs help now that he has escaped with his family. His name is Parwiz Hamidy, and he, his wife Rahima, and 2 boys (4 and 5 years old) barely escaped Afghanistan not 24 hours before the airport was locked down by the Taliban in August. They left Afghanistan with nearly nothing, as in the days before they escaped the Taliban were killing locals trying to leave the country. He has been settled in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. They are surviving, but have imminent needs. He has not secured a job yet and the money they get from the Canadian government covers only for their rent and utilities. Parwiz is prideful and has asked only for "leftovers" not new things but he does not have enough money for food or adequate winter clothing for the family. Please pass this in full or in part to anyone who may be able to help.
Parwiz (pronounced ParWEEZ) was my interpreter/translator in Afghanistan. I was 23 years old, and he was 22 at the time. He had already been working with US/Canadian forces for three years and had even been in a blast that visibly scared one of his eyes. He was an excellent interpreter and of the four translators that served my platoon, I always took with me to the most difficult meetings/engagements with local elders/leaders. I worked with him daily, and I took him on easily over 100 patrols, sometimes 2x in a day and often at night. I sponsored his Special Immigrant Visa to the US in 2011 which never got approved. Below are some pictures of Parwiz with me and my Platoon in Afghanistan in 2011. The family lives in a small apartment. We are exploring ways to send money, but for now I wanted to get his address out in case anyone can send some of the specific items they need. They left with virtually nothing and they need help. I put together as much of the sizing information I could get for the family.
Needs:
Winter shoes/Boots for all, snow suits for kids, warm socks, tights/stockings/leggings for his wife, Kids Jeans/Pants, Kids Shoes, Coats/Jackets, Shirts, Skirts, Sim Cards
Tea kettle
Wagon to haul the kids in during walks to the store and help carry back groceries.
Toys/Gifts are obviously secondary to clothes, but in the event someone wants to send:
Toy Cars/trucks/dolls/puzzles/books/coloring books
For Gift Cards for grocery/essentials:
Walmart, Nofrill, Freshco
Hamidy Family Mailing Address:
Parwiz Hamidy Family
#401 - 245 Charlotte St,
Peterborough, Ontario.
K9J , 7K6
Canada.
Pawiz (Father):
Show Size: 43cm - size 10 or 11US
Jacket: S/M
Pants: 34W, 28L
Height: 170cm (5'6")
Rahima (Wife):
Shoe Size: 41/10.5 Womens US
Height: 160 cm (~5'3" tall)
Jacket Size: S
2x Sons:
Ages: 5 and 4 years old
Shoes size: 1 adult/12 kids and 10 kids
Pants: 2XL kids (for the 5 year old)
Snowsuit/-4T and 5T
Thank you for any help, prayers, or contacts you can pass along.
With Gratitude,
Stephen