A Plymouth Welcome Circle will soon welcome and help settle an Afghan refugee family in the Seattle metropolitan area. Our Plymouth group is working with the Sponsor Circle Program, a community-led resettlement initiative for some of the thousands who were evacuated when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan. Many of these individuals and families are living at military bases, awaiting placement in welcoming communities. We will be aided by the experience and know-how of Viets for Afghans. We look forward to being a small part of this worthy endeavor.

The Plymouth Welcome Circle will be finding initial housing and furnishings; stocking a pantry; helping adults find employment; connecting to services such as health care, education, language learning, and legal assistance; and providing initial income support. The Community Service and Social Action Board has made a financial grant for this project, and the Immigration Ministry Team will provide more general support.

The first priority will be housing leads for a 6 to 12-month lease, probably for a large family. If you can help with leads, contact Carol Mooney . Contact for the circle as a whole is Vicki Schoettle.

Members of the Plymouth Welcome Circle are Vicki Schoettle, Janet Gwilym, Carol Mooney, Warren Smith, Christine Hanson, Kathy Rood, Ruth Williamson, Mary Margaret Pruitt, Valerie Sils, Bing Tso, Allen Bentley, and Judy Bentley, but everyone at Plymouth can be a part of this circle.

Note: Plymouth Welcome Circle will present Going Through with our Afghan Neighbors. This will be a Lenten series of Zoom meetings on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Click here to register and learn more.