With more than 1,400 Afghan refugees at Ft. Bliss this past week, at least three local nonprofit organizations are accepting donations of items and gifts to provide care and support for the refugees.

Paso del Norte Community Foundation

For donors interested in making a gift through the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, we have established the Afghan Refugee Support Fund to facilitate donations, which will be distributed to the nonprofit organizations providing refugee support and care.

Armed Services YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA has developed a priority wish list of items needed through Amazon, direct donations and delivery of priority items to be dropped off at the ASUMCA Lodge | Monday-Friday 9am-5pm | 7060 Comington St. El Paso, TX 79930. 

For more information and updates on items being accepted click here or email, GEIsaesser@asymca.org or BRamirez@asymca.org.

Red Cross, West Texas Chapter

The Red Cross will be providing initial mass care to multiple military bases and reception areas in the United States from August 20 through at least September 30, 2021. Their aid includes:

• Providing expert mega-shelter management teams.
• Providing mass care workers to support dormitory management, including health and mental health services.
• Providing relief supplies such as comfort kits with hygiene items, diapers and cribs.
• Helping evacuees reconnect with family members through our Restoring Family Links program, which aids families separated by the chaos of disasters, war and other crises.

To support the Red Cross in their relief efforts, you can log-on to: https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/central-and-south-texas.html

YMCA of El Paso

Monetary donations can be made payable to the YMCA of El Paso and mailed to 810 Wyoming El Paso, Texas 79902. The YMCA is also accepting donations of the following items at any of their branch locations. For more information, visit www.elpasoymca.org.

Active toys: corn hole, bean bag toss type games, basketballs, basketball hoop and stand for use indoors, mini soccer goal - use indoors, soccer balls - small size, balls - soft (variety of sizes and balls that light up when bounced), hula hoops, parachute, jump ropes, frisbees, badminton set, cricket bat, tennis balls (3 packet)

Media: large flat screen, LED TV, DVD player, microphone and speakers, megaphone, Let's Dance Kid and Just Dance Kids DVDs, Kids Movies (assortment).