Habitat Provides Emergency Humanitarian Aid to Afghani Evacuees

Habitat for Humanity of Burlington and Mercer Counties recently teamed up with the U.S. Air Force Reserves to provide Afghani evacuees at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst with humanitarian assistance in the form of toiletries, personal items, KN-95 masks, and household items.  

During the initial onset of evacuations, Habitat pledged to assist the joint base through its partners at the 514th Air Mobility Wing, a component of the United States Air Force Reserve. Like any emergency, the need to support the incoming evacuees was sudden and urgent. So when the call came that items were needed, Habitat staff and volunteers loaded a truck to the brim, and drove through rain to deliver the donation to the joint base.  

“Having a safe and decent place to live is more than a roof overhead, and we saw value in our ability to help the evacuees who arrived on base through our ReStore,” said Habitat BMC CEO, Lori Leonard. “The military has always been a partner of ours, and any chance we get to foster relationships among our service members and the people they are helping, we will certainly answer the call.”  

The donation was provided through an emergency response campaign launched by Habitat BMC to address the needs of local community members facing difficulties in life. The influx of pertinent, non-furniture or building material donations to the ReStore over the years has allowed Habitat to support hospitals, food banks, homeless shelters, foster care programs, essential workers, victims of domestic violence and now, Afghani evacuees.  

In total, the joint base MDL has accepted 9,325 evacuees, including 24 newborn babies and over 250 expecting mothers. As evacuees continue to resettle in the tri-county area Habitat for Humanity will continue to offer its fullest support. 

As of October 2021, the base is still in need of donated supplies! Please consider contributing high need items like undergarments, winter clothing, hair brushes, deodorant, and baby items like formula, diapers, shampoo, and diaper cream. All products must be new in order to be accepted. You can bring donations to Habitat BMC, or find other local community partners like Team Rubicon.