New community-based Afghan relief donation hub in Hayward to hold Open House event Dec. 4

HAYWARD, Calif., Nov. 23, 2021—Hayward community members and the City of Hayward are working with leading refugee assistance organizations to establish a donation hub to accept, inventory and distribute items of great need to Afghan refugees as they resettle in the greater Bay Area.

Located at the Matt Jimenez Community Center at 28200 Ruus Road in South Hayward, the donation site accepts welcome baskets, toiletry kits and other needed items, and is working with the nonprofit International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI) to connect with Afghan families and individuals as they resettle in Hayward, throughout Alameda County and across the region.

It plans a special Open House event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, during which donations will be accepted and tours of the new facility will be available.

The Hayward Afghan Relief donation center is volunteer led—with support from City of Hayward staff—with many participants being Afghan Americans who are multilingual and able to effectively communicate with newly arriving Afghan-refugee community members.

Though nonprofit organizations such as IRC and CERI encourage financial donations as a way to support the relief effort following the U.S. military withdraw from Afghanistan, in-kind contributions of items such as the following are and will continue to help fulfill important needs:

• Toiletries—Diapers, baby wipes, toothbrushes, baby formula, etc.
• Clothing—Traditional garments, shoes, shirts, etc.
• Housewares—Pots and pans, blankets and bedding, prayer rugs, etc.

To learn more about the Hayward-based Afghan Relief donation center, including items that are needed, how to donate, contact information and when items are being accepted for donation, go online to the project website, www.The5ivePillars.org.