In July 2023, we created a Crisis Fund to help people served by IWR in times of exceptional need. The decision to start this fund was made in response to the tragic passing of a man from Afghanistan, whom we had helped to resettle locally with his wife and four school-aged children just weeks earlier.

The deceased, who was the sole income earner in his family, lost his life in a traffic accident in Ithaca. He had worked as a translator for the US military before fleeing Afghanistan with his family. As his family grieved, they also found themselves in an immediate crisis without an income or means to support themselves.

Thanks to the generosity of community members who responded to our appeal, we raised $72,470 for the IWR Crisis Fund. As a result, we have been able to support the family over the past year with critical monthly expenses such as household bills, medical expenses and a travel loan repayment to the US government for the cost of the family’s flight to the US when they first arrived. 

An update to the case of this family now brings us to open a new public appeal for donations to the Crisis Fund. The authorities recently concluded their investigation, and found insufficient evidence to press charges against the driver of the vehicle that caused this tragedy. The family would like to pursue a civil case against the driver and is able to count on the support of a lawyer in the community who is representing them pro bono. However, an anticipated $5,000 is needed to pay for out-of-pocket costs to proceed with the case, including fees for subpoenas and depositions.

We continue to support the family's living expenses from the remaining funds collected in our inaugural Crisis Fund appeal last year. Please help us raise a further $5,000 to cover the legal fees for them to pursue justice, and secure the compensation and closure to rebuild their lives.

If you can help, please donate through this page or send a check to Ithaca Welcomes Refugees at 315 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca, N.Y., 14850 and note ‘Crisis Fund’ in the memo. 

Photo by tabitha turner on Unsplash