Throughout the month of September, a collection of PNWU student clubs collaborated to gather essential items for Afghan refugees arriving in the Pacific Northwest. Having now emptied the donation boxes, effort organizers are thrilled with the outcome.
Over 1,300 diapers, more than 60 packs of wipes, bottles, infant clothing, breastfeeding pads, and more were collected from both PNWU’s campus donation boxes and Yakima’s Henry Beauchamp Community Center, which served as a community drop-off point. Those infant care items will be donated to World Relief, a Seattle-based non-profit organization that focuses on helping refugees and other immigrants in vulnerable situations rebuild their lives in a new country.
“The PNWU students and Yakima community really came together in support of the Afghan refugees!” exclaimed Marissa Krager, OMS II, President of PNWU’s Internal Medicine Club, who helped to organize the efforts. “Thanks to everyone who made this such a success!”
Student Doctor Krager and others plan to deliver their donations to World Relief on Sunday, October 10. Washington state is expected to welcome 1,670 Afghan evacuees in the coming months.