Cleveland and Building Hope Prepare to Welcome Afghan Families

With your help, we watched as an outpouring of generosity, compassion and relentless hope poured into the organization in a matter of days through your support.

When the Taliban started the tragic takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, Building Hope in the City quickly mobilized its army of supporters to raise funds to help Afghan families in Cleveland file humanitarian parole applications for their loved ones still living in Afghanistan.  The legal team at The Hope Center joined an emergency legal clinic in town on August 23 and began the lengthy process of filing for 100+ individuals connected to local Afghan families. 

This special filing is used in emergency situations, and if these brothers and sisters are able to find a way out of Afghanistan, gives them priority for resettling because a family member in the United States paid this application fee up front and is sponsoring their arrival.

We began with a goal to file for 93 loved ones, with the cost per filing of $575, which meant we needed to raise $53,475.  Here’s how the BHITC family of supporters responded - 

Fundraising goal set on Monday, 8/23: $53,475:

Raised by Tuesday, 8/24: $23,561

Raised by Wednesday, 8/25: $39,256

Raised by Thursday 8/26: $55,000+

Raised by Friday 8/27: $66,326

Total Funds Raised Towards this Effort:  $107,132

With your help, we watched as an outpouring of generosity, compassion and relentless hope poured into the organization in a matter of days through your support.  Dozens and dozens of church partners and volunteers reached out, and we saw nearly 100 first-time donors to the organization alongside many long-time, faithful donors!  In total, our legal team was able to file for 100+ Afghan family members, thanks to your support!


As of early September, we know the applications will be processed by the US government in the next 90-120 days.  Because these individuals filed for humanitarian parole, if they do arrive in Cleveland, they will not receive any of the traditional support available for other filings such as under the traditional refugee status.  This means local Afghan family members assume the ability to provide for all of their needs.


Money raised above and beyond our goal has already supported additional filings for family members, our legal team and will assist newly arriving family members with basic needs. 


We continue to pray for these loved ones, and you can join us!  

  • Pray for many family members still trying to find a way out of the country 

  • Pray for their loved ones here locally as they wait painfully for updates

  • Pray for our staff and volunteers at The Hope Center

  • Pray for God to make a way to leave the country where there appears to be no way

  • Pray for those within the US government as they begin to process the applications 

More ways you can help - 

The U.S. State Department identified Cleveland as one of 19 welcoming communities for those fleeing Afghanistan and could accept anywhere from 500 to 2,000 of these Afghan brothers and sisters in the next few months. You can help us welcome them and love them in the name of Christ!

  • Give directly to The Hope Center here

  • Shop our Amazon wish list of needed materials

  • Learn more about refugees by attending Refugee/ The Hope Center 101. Click here to register and view additional training dates

  • Become a tutor or an ESL coach. Email Eloy, with questions at eloy@buildinghopeinthecity.org

Additional inquiries can go to hopecenter@buildinghopeinthecity.org.

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