Our mission is to serve Afghan residents of Maine with support for basic needs (i.e., food and clothing), transportation, retention of the Afghan culture, and culturally diverse community integration to elevate the quality of their lives.Our organization’s history follows the history of Afghan refugees and their exodus to the United States which spans several decades. Beginning with the Soviet invasion in the 1980’s that drove millions of Afghans from their homes and continuing to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 that led to a massive exodus of Afghans seeking refuge from the Taliban takeover. In response to the most recent surge, the U.S. government announced a refugee admissions program for Afghans who have assisted our government and other eligible ones who are at risk, planning to admit up to 50,000 refugees. Due to this program, we now serve about 600 people which are low-to-moderate income, most speaking English as a second language which presents barriers to entering American life.  We provide support and resources to those Afghans who resettle in Maine to help them overcome challenges and build successful lives. We want to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for refugees and immigrants. This is done by being a helping hand throughout their journey, from providing food and clothing, to helping with translation and transportation, empowering them to seek employment and assisting with after-school activities for the children.