Assisting Afghan Refugees at Ft. McCoy Volunteer Information Sessions
The Wisconsin Council of Churches has partnered with Catholic Charities of LaCrosse to provide volunteers to assist with Morale, Wellness, and Recreation centers provided for Afghan Guests at Fort McCoy. The centers include dedicated space for women and children, recreation centers for all ages, learning centers for school-age children and youth, and sewing centers.
Volunteers must:
- Commit to long-term volunteering, either coming for a week at a time (housing is provided) or scheduling a regular day(s) for a period of 6+ weeks or so (i.e. every Thursday; every Friday).
- Understand that this is hard work. These volunteer positions require high energy, intercultural competency, and flexibility.
- Know that they are NOT to bring items to give away. Material donations are not being accepted. While people have the best of intentions, it actually creates problems with inequality.
- Maintain boundaries. Sometimes (often) this means saying no or firmly enforcing the rules and expectations of a center. Kindness and compassion coupled with an ability to be firm and consistent with the policies of the program are essential.
- Be vaccinated against COVID-19 (a booster is strongly encouraged) and commit to maintaining COVID safety (mask-wearing, etc).
- Be 18 or older, provide a State ID or drivers’ license, phone and email information, and proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
- The WCC will hold hour-long information sessions for those who are interested in volunteering at Ft. McCoy. Sessions will include a short presentation and a time for questions and answers. If you are interested, please register below to receive a zoom link (note: the zoom link is the same for all sessions in a month, but you only need to attend one). In the sessions, we will share next steps to sign up to volunteer.
Join us on one of the following days to learn more – January 25 (Tuesday) 7pm; January 31 (Monday) 12pm; February 10 (Thursday) 10am; February 21 (Monday) 12pm; February 22 (Tuesday) 7pm;
We also continue to update our website with other ways to get involved. Reach out to Rev. Peder Johanson, the WCC’s Volunteer Coordinator for Afghan Refugee Response for more information.
