MUNCIE — As "Operation Allies Welcome" came to a close at Camp Atterbury in January, it was learned that more than 7,000 Afghan evacuees resettled in 45 states.
Indiana made it in the top ten of those destinations.
Officials noted around 700 evacuees from Camp Atterbury and beyond decided to call the Hoosier state home. In Muncie, more than 100 new neighbors joined the community.
“This is not a short-term thing. They will need help for a long time,” said Bibi Bahrami, the chairwoman for Muncie Afghan Refugee Resettlement Committee.
MARRC helped the 33 families transition into their new lives in Delaware County.
PREVOUS | Muncie committee hopes to welcome Camp Atterbury Afghan evacuees
“Our goal was the sooner we make these families independent, the better,” Bahrami said.
The organization provides various services for these families from housing to healthcare to employment. It also worked with Muncie Community Schools to welcome 65 Afghan evacuee children into the classroom, including pre-K students to high school seniors.
“So every family that came in we would look at the students and try to determine the best setting for that student and then we made that program available,” Muncie Community Schools CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski said.
Muncie schools said looking ahead, they are working to continue English services for these students throughout the summer.
Since starting last fall, MARRC has raised $300,000 to assist in providing services, according to Bahrami.
She told WRTV it needs more than $90,000 to continue helping families become self-sufficient. They are also looking for volunteers to assist in their services.
-
Former GM stamping plant property sold to Elanco
According to the release, the agreement enables Elanco and its partners, including Purdue University, to accelerate the creation of an innovation district in downtown Indianapolis.
Global nonprofit adopts a highway in Hendricks County
On Sunday, volunteers with Dr. Shri. Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan (DSNDP) took part in a community cleanup drive on US 136 near Pittsburro.
Collier scores 32 in return from absence, Lynx beat short-handed Fever 97-84
Napheesa Collier had 32 points and nine rebounds in her return from a seven-game absence, and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Indiana Fever 97-84 on Sunday night.
IU Health's Mosaic Center finds permanent home to expand career services
The center, equipped with open workspaces, conferences, and a computer center, will focus on connecting Hoosiers with training and job opportunities across a wide range of roles at IU Health.
