2022 -- H 8242

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LC005868

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

THANKING AND COMMENDING THE AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GENEROUS

RHODE ISLANDERS WHO ARE ASSISTING THE HUMANITARIAN AFGHAN RELIEF

EFFORTS IN RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, McEntee, Tanzi,
Ajello, Shallcross Smith, and Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: May 11, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has left thousands of civilians dead

and hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes, with families, communities, and livelihoods

in constant peril; and

     WHEREAS, Globally, humanitarian assistance began in an effort to provide for the wave

of internal displacement and evacuations as Afghan people with no access to safe water, shelter,

or food, sought safety for themselves and their families; and

     WHEREAS, In October of 2021, Rhode Island welcomed its first family of Afghan

refugees and continued preparations in anticipation of the need to resettle approximately 250

evacuees; and

     WHEREAS, A growing list of agencies and organizations have contributed to these

altruistic efforts including Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, Catholic Social Services

through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, and the Rhode Island Foundation, who in

partnership with the Governor's Office, established Afghan Relief RI to help meet the most urgent

needs of newly-arrived evacuees; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Foundation has raised nearly $1.5 million to provide for

Afghan evacuees via the Refugee Relief Fund which is distributed to the resettlement agencies,

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island and Catholic Social Services, to provide housing,

food and transportation; and

     WHEREAS, This year, in addition to its extraordinary efforts on behalf of Afghan

evacuees, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island is marking one hundred years of work

"to empower the most vulnerable among us through wraparound programs and services helping

those in need overcome educational, cultural, economic, and language barriers" with its

Centennial Celebration; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, the Governor's Office and the Rhode Island Department of

Human Services is working to support the efforts of local individuals and groups such as Task

Force Kingston who have assisted the Jelani Family and Task Force Wickford who have been

working with the Noori Family and have volunteered myriad time and effort to helping these

families; and

     WHEREAS, To date, Rhode Island's collaborative efforts have helped to welcome,

resettle, and support over 300 Afghan refugees; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

thanks the agencies, organizations, and generous Rhode Islanders who have and continue to assist

the humanitarian Afghan relief efforts in our State; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Kathy Cloutier, Executive Director, Dorcas

International Institute of Rhode Island, James Jahnz, Catholic Charities and Social Ministry, Neil

Steinberg, Director of the Rhode Island Foundation, Task Force Kingston, and Task Force

Wickford.

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LC005868

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