The first Afghan refugees arrived more than a week ago at Camp Atterbury, and since then, Johnson County residents have been scrambling to find ways to help both the hundreds of refugees and hundreds of service members brought to the base as part of the mission.
Earlier this month, federal and state officials said Atterbury in southern Johnson County was selected as one of eight military facilities that would temporarily house refugees fleeing Afghanistan following the country’s government takeover by the Taliban. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Northern Command said it would support up to 50,000 refugees.
The Defense Department is providing transportation, temporary housing, sustainment and support in the United States for Afghan special immigrant visa applicants, their families and other at-risk individuals at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible, according to a Camp Atterbury news release.
Task Force Atterbury, which includes active-duty and National Guard service members, will provide housing, medical, logistics and transportation for the refugees, Atterbury officials said earlier this month.
In addition to Atterbury staff and volunteers, about 800 military police and health care professionals were brought in from other bases to avoid strain on local police and hospitals.
Throughout the county, several churches, organizations and businesses are stepping up to help provide aid to refugees.
Trafalgar Christian Church, along with its sister church Union Christian, are coordinating donations to be delivered to Team Rubicon, a nonprofit that has been selected to coordinate donations and volunteers for Afghan refugees nationwide. The American Red Cross is also assisting.
The churches wanted to find out what they could do to help, so Rev. Kyrmen Rea, pastor of Trafalgar Christian, reached out to Team Rubicon, who gave the churches a list of needed goods. The church has a small congregation that is trying to purchase what they can, but they realized greater good could happen if giving opportunities were expanded beyond the church and into the community, she said.
Rea decided to go one-step further, so she decided to make her own home a drop-off area for her neighbors. She lives in the Center Grove area, and has been reaching out to her neighbors through the NextDoor app.
“Items are coming to my home, and then I take them to the church and we’re sorting them there,” she said.
Then, the items are delivered to a Team Rubicon warehouse near Atterbury, as access to the base is restricted.
Rea is impressed with the generosity of county residents, especially her neighbors. By her own count, her doorbell has gone off, on average, 15 times a day, with people dropping off stuff to donate. It reached the point where she now has a donation sign at her house for people to drop off items, she said.
People have also sent Amazon deliveries straight to her home.
“I keep getting messages from people saying, “Watch for my Amazon package.” A pastor from a church in Muncie called me … and said, ‘I just purchased $400 worth of diapers and formula,'” Rea said.
Delivery donations have included one with 29 pairs of children’s shoes, and another with boxes full of diapers.
Rea also worked with a neighbor who is a member of the Muslim community in Indianapolis to help put together a list of culturally appropriate clothing. The list is not perfect, as Rea is not an expert on this, but it is a start to help guide donations, she said.
“People want to help, they just don’t know how,” Rea said.
Up the road in Franklin, the Johnson County Recycling District is also taking donations. The recycling district decided to help when they saw the call for donations go out, said Jessie Biggerman, executive director.
The recycling district is a drive-thru facility located along Arvin Road in Franklin that has big boxes that can easily facilitate large amounts of donations being moved from one place to another. The items the district is accepting are from a list provided by Team Rubicon, Biggerman said.
“We’ll accept those items and make sure they get to where they need to go,” she said.
Local businesses are also accepting donations for both the refugees and service members at Atterbury.
Wild Geese Bookshop, in Franklin, has been accepting donations since the beginning of the month, and will continue to do so until Sept. 19, according to the bookshop. The refugee donations are through Team Rubicon, and donations for service members are through the Camp Atterbury USO. J.L. Johnson Fine Jewelers in Greenwood and The Mint in Franklin have partnered with the USO to gather donations as well.
A “wish list” from the Atterbury USO has been making arounds on social media, something Doug Warnecke, Atterbury USO center manager, was not expecting.
The list was created by the USO, but it was not created for for Operations Allies Welcome. The viral list was created and sent to an organization several months ago for a fundraiser that organization was doing, Warnecke said.
While the list is a few months old, it still is good, he said.
The USO will continue to accept donations for service members. The focus right now is on snack items and toiletries, including individual serving size foods and hot dog buns, Warnecke said.
Many people are collecting donations for the USO, but only a few organizations have actually contacted them to partner up. While this is allowed, it has led to some confusion. Several people have tried to drop off donations at Atterbury while access to the base is restricted, and without informing the USO, he said.
If someone has donations for the USO, they need to call ahead of time to schedule a drop off. The USO will work with them from there.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”What do refugees need?” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Here is a list of what is needed for Afghan refugees at Camp Atterbury. Most donation sites will only accept new items:
Clothing
Team Rubicon is only accepting summer and fall clothing, but winter clothes will be considered starting in late September.
- Men: Unbranded, modest clothing including shirts and pants in all sizes. No shorts or tank tops will be accepted.
- Women: Unbranded, modest clothing including long-sleeve crew neck shirts, modest short-sleeve shirts and pants in all sizes. No shorts, dresses or tank tops will be accepted.
- Children: Same items as above in all age ranges and sizes, with the same restrictions applied.
- Infants: Baby and newborn clothes, hats and socks
- Other items: Undergarments, modest underwear, socks, hats, shoes and slide-on sandals. Flip flops will not be accepted.
Child-specific items
Some bulk items will be accepted by Team Rubicon.
- Diapers
- Diaper cream
- Baby wipes
- Baby shampoo
- Baby lotion
- Infant and child blankets or swaddles
- Liquid formula
- Non-battery operated toys
- Non-glass bottles
- Pacifiers
- Spoons
- Sports balls
Food, water and hygiene
Individually packaged items are preferred when possible.
- Bottled water
- Water-soluble electrolyte, hydration and vitamin powders and liquids
- Feminine hygiene products, excluding tampons
- Bars of soap
- Shampoo
- Combs / brushes
- Deodorant
- Towels
- Washcloths
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Shower shoes
- Toilet paper
- Face masks, both disposable or reusable
- Gloves
- Hand sanitizer
Miscellaneous
Unbranded items are preferred, if possible.
- Backpacks
- Bug spray
- Phone chargers, including wall adapters and cords for iPhone and Android phones
- Prayer rugs
- Qurans
- Reusable, non-glass water bottles
- Sunscreen
Source: Team Rubicon
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”What do service members need?” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Here is a list of what is needed for service members at Camp Atterbury:
Snacks
Individually-packaged items are requested.
- Chips
- Nut products
- Peanut butter and/or cheese crackers
- Snack and/or energy bars
- Breakfast bars
- Trail mix
- Candy
- Cookies
- Slim Jims
- Bottled water
Hygiene
- Shampoo
- Chapstick
- Sunscreen
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
Source: Camp Atterbury USO
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Drop-off locations” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Here is a list of where you can drop off items:
Refugees
Johnson County Recycling District: 900 Arvin Drive, Franklin. The Franklin Recycling Center is open for drop-offs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday though Friday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
Trafalgar Christian Church: 300 West Pearl Street, Trafalgar. Those interested in dropping off donations should call or text Pastor Kyrmen Rea ahead of time at 317-408-9782.
Union Christian Church: 1331 East 300 South, Franklin. Those interested in dropping off donations should call Rev. Mark Parkinson ahead of time at 765-744-9772.
Wild Geese Bookshop:Â 107 South Water Street, Franklin. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12-4 p.m. on Sundays.
Service members
Atterbury USO: Building 347, Camp Atterbury. The USO is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday though Sunday. Those wanting to drop off donations need to call the USO ahead of time at 317-292-1849.
J.L. Johnson Fine Jewelers: 1263 North State Road 135, Greenwood. The store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
The Mint: 40 North Water Street, Franklin. The bar is open from 4-10 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays; 4 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and is closed on Mondays.
Wild Geese Bookshop:Â 107 South Water Street, Franklin. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12-4 p.m. on Sundays.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
