Offer help to those who are hurting

To the editor:

Many of us saw the distressing photos and videos from Kabul, Afghanistan, a few weeks ago — photos and videos of people desperately trying to get on a plane, any plane to escape the war and violence in their homeland.

The image of people clinging to — and falling from— the landing gear of a plane taking off is as heart-wrenching as it is unforgettable.

Now, those people are our neighbors. Camp Atterbury, in southern Indiana, is serving as the temporary home for as many as 5,000 Afghan refugees as they await resettlement in communities across the country.

These are men and women who worked alongside our troops across the 20 years of the war against terror in Afghanistan, putting themselves at risk as translators, drivers and more. These are their children, forced to leave their homes, their friends and their belongings.

Can you even begin to imagine what they must be going through

I can’t.

One thing we can do, though, is make them feel welcome here. I have spent almost my entire life in various parts of Indiana, and I know from experience how generous and kind Hoosiers can be. If ever there was a group of people who needed to see and feel that generosity and kindness, it is the refugees at Camp Atterbury.

Here’s how you can get involved: Asbury United Methodist Church is working with Team Rubicon and serving as a collection point for donations for Camp Atterbury. There is a complete list of needed items on our church Facebook page. What we have been told, though, is that there is a specific and immediate need for diapers of all sizes, baby wipes and liquid baby formula (they cannot accept powdered formula).

Asbury will be collecting these items and coordinating with Team Rubicon to get them delivered to Camp Atterbury for as long as they are needed. You can also help financially, either by donating through Asbury, which will use the funds to purchase items, or by going to teamrubiconusa.org.

If you have questions, please get in touch with me at [email protected].

This is our chance to be the love of God for hurting people. Let’s not miss it.

Pastor Joe Boggs

Asbury United Methodist Church