FORT MCCOY — In the midst of the changing political landscape in Afghanistan, thousands of refugees left the Middle East in search of safety in the second half of 2021. Among the locations picked to house the refugees was Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin, a U.S. Army base.

While many have been able to move on to different housing accommodations in the months since, more than 7,000 Afghani guests are still living at the Army base. They have all been vetted by Citizenship and Immigration Services and will be given Employment Authorization cards soon. Many are eager to leave the base. Resettlement agencies are working to place people, but as housing is limited, the process has been tough and slow. 

With the winter cold arriving on schedule, many of these families are in urgent need of clothing to stay warm. Donations of gently used items are fine and smaller adult sizes are requested, although all donations will be accepted. 

Great Plains Zen Center, a local church, is collecting these donations for the Afghani guests:

Consumables: lotion, tweezers, nail clippers, razors, shaving gel, laundry pods, Chapstick, hair ties, baby shampoo and wash, baby powder and oil, dual body/hair wash, Vaseline, Sippy cups, baby bottles, baby bottle cleaning brushes, extra baby bottle nipples, strollers, pack ‘n plays (used as portable cribs for the babies that will go with the guest when they’re resettled), pack ‘n play sleeping pads/sheets, 2-in-1 car seats for the guests as they head for resettlement, sunglasses, phone charging cords and wall ports, new breast pumps, first aid kits, and hot water kettles.

Clothing: children’s normal/winter clothing (age 5-13), toddler normal/winter clothing (size 2T-6T), all men’s clothing size large and under (especially pants size 32 and under), all winter items (mostly boots, gloves, hats, scarves, snow pants), traditional clothing (called “salwar kameez”), winter weight socks (not normal warm-weather socks, as there are already many), head scarfs, prayer mats, padded bras (not sports bras), men’s/women’s/kid’s shoes, and thermal clothing

Education: tablets, notebooks (wide and college ruled), dry erase lapboards, dry erase starter kits, dry erase markers, crayons, colored pencils, Liqui-mark, construction paper, loose leaf paper, dividers, folders, 3-pocket expanding folders, manila folders, 3-ring binders, organization bags, expansion envelopes, sidewalk chalk, book bags, gym duffels, individual books (various skill levels), scotch tape, rulers, easels, all-purpose glue sticks, calculators, safety scissors, clipboards, pencils, pens, pencil sharpeners, pencil erasers, puzzles, games, etc.

Recreation: ball pumps, ball pump needles, foosball tables, foosball balls, decks of cards, dominos, tricycles, soft dodgeballs, games, puzzles, sewing material/equipment, knitting material/equipment, barber equip, kids hockey sticks, snow fun items, play dough, painting kits, paint brushes, actual playground equip, tumbling mats, popcorn machines, unpopped popcorn, movie theater butter, unexpired snacks (single serving is ideal), sewing equipment (sewing machines, knitting needles, etc) and materials (fabric, thread, yarn, etc), and floor pillows.

Items may be brought to Great Plains Zen Center, W7762 Falk Rd., Monroe, now through March 15. Please call Susan Andersen at 608-325-6248 or email s.myoyu.andersen@gmail.com to set up a drop-off time.    

Donations can also be picked up if requested. All collected donations will be taken to Richland Fellowship Center, Richland, whose staff will deliver them to the base. For further information, call Robert Collier at 224-567-0579 or Susan Andersen at 608-325-6248.