Afghan community grows as Refugee Alliance of Delaware County carries on resettlement work

MUNCIE, Ind. − Muncie City Council received an update on the progress of Afghan refugees, welcomed to Muncie following the seizure of the Afghan government by Taliban forces in 2021.

The report was delivered by Joann McKinney, president of the Refugee Alliance of Delaware County, a new organization formed in August as the Muncie Afghan Refugee Resettlement Committee (MARRC) completed its mission under its charter. The Refugee Alliance is picking up where the Resettlement Committee left off in continuing to help refugees as they adjust to life in the United States.

"When we were in meetings last April, it became apparent to many of us on the MARRC Board that six months of assistance for our new neighbors from Afghanistan really wasn't going to be sufficient," McKinney told the council.

McKinney said there are now 130 Afghan refugees living in the Muncie community, an increase from 120 earlier this year. Additional refugees tend to be friends and families of those already settled in Muncie, some who had attempted to settle in other U.S. communities but encountered more difficulties than those who settled locally.

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"We have three more families we've just welcomed in the last few days," McKinney said. "It's been very interesting because now we are getting secondary migration. They've heard from their friends and family how great Muncie is and people are starting to move here from places like Florida, Texas and Michigan. So we're excited to welcome more of their friends and family here as they establish more of their community in our community."

The Alliance is an official co-sponsor of refugees relocating through Catholic Charities, a nationwide resettlement agency.

Ari Hurwitz, case manager with the Alliance, said the actual work of resettlement can take years rather than months to get families from a different nation and culture reestablished and flourishing.

More:Muncie works to keep its promises to new neighbors from Afghanistan

The Alliance supports refugees with help in providing assistance with housing, transportation, translation, education and in finding work. It also helps with immigration, including finding permanent residency and helping with family reunification and with empowerment women. Many of the women do not know how to drive a car or know how to read their native language.

"Trying to teach them English is going to continue to be a challenge," she said.

McKinney said refugees have been helping local manufacturers cope with a labor shortage of about 500 jobs in Delaware County. Nine refugee workers were instrumental in helping longtime local foundry Beckett Bronze meet demands this year. Another 14 refugees work at Newell Brands, owner of Jarden Home Brands, a maker of plastic products on north Street in Muncie.

The families now have 60 children living in Muncie and 46 students in local public schools, boosting income to Muncie Community Schools, McKinney said.

The refugees were among about 75,000 airlifted from Afghanistan when the United States pulled out of the country as the government fell to the Taliban. The families brought to the U.S. had worked with and supported U.S. Troops in their years of fighting against Taliban forces there.

Eleven men and one woman are here in Muncie while their families remain in Afghanistan, McKinney said. The Alliance is working to make their families whole again. Many of the refugees here are struggling to provide money for their families back in their home country.

She and Hurwitz said the organization can always use more Welcome Families to help the new families and monetary donations. Those seeking more information can visit Refugee Alliance of Delaware County − RADC on Facebook. Donations can be made to Refugee Alliance of Delaware County, P.O. Box 788, Muncie, IN 47308.

More:New Muncie residents from Afghanistan are working, in school, playing soccer

In other business in what was a light night for city council, members took time to honor Mark Kinman, an active citizen who died late last month. He had become a fixture at council meetings as an advocate for the community, especially for the Southside of Muncie. Kinman was recognized posthumously as the Citizen of the Month by Troy Ingram.

"He just loved helping others," Ingram said.

Council President Jeff Robinson said Kinman had had a presence at city council meetings for decades.