Plutarch for Refugees
Our mission:
To help refugees resettle in New York State's Ulster County.
Plutarch for Refugees is a volunteer, nonprofit group working with other
agencies to resettle those in needs to our Hudson Valley community.
We work under the umbrella of Afghan Refugee Network, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity and we need your help!
Plutarch for Refugees is a volunteer, nonprofit group working with other
agencies to resettle those in needs to our Hudson Valley community.
We work under the umbrella of Afghan Refugee Network, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity and we need your help!
Join us for our 2024 Harvest Fest Fundraiser!
We are now an official Welcome Corps Sponsorship group!
The U.S. State Department has launched a new private sponsorship program where five volunteers can come together to sponsor a named family of refugees. Our volunteer group has been approved as a Welcome Corps Private Sponsorship Group and the proceeds from this year's Harvest Fest will go towards supporting a new Afghan family that we hope will be joining here in Plutarch before the end of the year.
If you are interested in becoming a private sponsor in the U.S. Dept. of State supported Welcome Corps program,
please email us: [email protected]
Thank you and we hope to see you on Saturday, October 19 (rain or shine)!
The U.S. State Department has launched a new private sponsorship program where five volunteers can come together to sponsor a named family of refugees. Our volunteer group has been approved as a Welcome Corps Private Sponsorship Group and the proceeds from this year's Harvest Fest will go towards supporting a new Afghan family that we hope will be joining here in Plutarch before the end of the year.
If you are interested in becoming a private sponsor in the U.S. Dept. of State supported Welcome Corps program,
please email us: [email protected]
Thank you and we hope to see you on Saturday, October 19 (rain or shine)!
Thank you for making our 2023 Harvest Festival such a success!
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WOW! We can't believe the incredible attendance and support at Plutarch for Refugee's first Harvest Festival! Because of your wonderful, amazing generosity, the event raised over $6,000! All of these donated funds will go directly to support the recently arrived Afghan family that Plutarch for Refugees has sponsored for resettlement into our coummunity.
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The weather was just perfect for a fun day of music, activites, and delicious food! Special thanks to our cooks, bakers, musicians, activities planners and coordinators and everyone else who worked so hard to make this special day such a success. And thank you 10 Horse Art Center for hosting us, we hope to be back there soon!
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Given the success of the Harvest Festival, Plutarch for Refugees will continue to organize community fundraising events to help meet the goals of our refugee resettlement efforts. You can email us at [email protected] to be added to our mailing list and inquire about joining us as a volunteer. You can also donate directly to our cause by visiting our donation page HERE: Thank you!
Please join us at our Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 15th!
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Please join us at Plutarch for Refugee’s FREE Harvest Fest Benefit at 10 Horse Art Center in Plutarch, NY on Saturday, October, 15th from noon to 4pm.
We’ll have music, food, children’s activities and even a silent auction of original artwork some of which is shown here! Come and make pop-ups with #1 NY Times best-selling children’s book creator Robert Sabuda. All proceeds from the day’s event will go directly to sponsor and support an Afghan refugee family who will arrive into our community in October 
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Thank you for supporting Plutarch for Refugees Walk-a-thon!
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We walked and kayaked and rode our way to over $13,000 in donations, all of which will go DIRECTLY to support the Afghan refugee family who will arrive at the beginning of September for resettlement in our community. None of this would not have been possible without the dedication of our AMAZING volunteers and neighbors and businesses who so graciously opened their hearts (and wallets and pocketbooks!) to help us go above and beyond our goal. We are truly humbled by your kind words and dedication to those in need. So THANK YOU! And if you missed out on supporting our Walk-a-thon, you can still contribute by visiting the Donate Page.
Help us resettle an Afghan refugee family!
A recently arrived family from Afghanistan is looking to be sponsored and resettled into our community. The family of seven fled the Taliban after the fall of Kabul last year. Here is their story told by the father (names have been changed for safety):
I grew up in Kabul and when I turned 8 years old I began to work to help provide for my family. My father had been recently imprisoned by the Soviets who invaded my country and we had nothing. I was a child laborer but at the same time attended school at my mother’s insistence.
Right before the Taliban came to power, I graduated high school and began to study Law and Political Science at Kabul University. Education has been one of the most important aspects of my life.
One of my neighbors in Kabul was a lovely woman named Narina. I was best friend’s with Narina’s brother so I spent a lot of time with Narina. We slowly grew closer and were happily married in 2002.
Since education has always been so important to me, right after I was married, I sent two of my nephews to a private school in Kabul. When they came home for school break I would test what they had learned. To my surprise they hadn’t learned anything! So I took matters into my own hands and founded a private school in Kabul. This school was one of the first co-ed schools in Afghanistan.
The school became really popular in Kabul and by 2020 had about 2500 students from Kindergarten to 12th grade. I also established a teacher’s training college for women but the Taliban were always watching and trying to infiltrate the school because they did not approve that we offered education to anyone, including girls and women.
My ethnic roots are from the Panjshir province of Afghanistan which has been a great difficulty for me and my family. Panjshir has a long-standing history of resistance against both the Soviets and the Taliban. Because of this, the Taliban would beat, torture, or even kill anyone who was from Panjshir, especially those who do things like start private schools for anyone.
We have had to leave everything behind that we built in Kabul and now have nothing. We hope to be resettled with you because you are working very hard to help resettle Afghans who are in great need like us. Thank you for the work you are doing and for considering my family.
I grew up in Kabul and when I turned 8 years old I began to work to help provide for my family. My father had been recently imprisoned by the Soviets who invaded my country and we had nothing. I was a child laborer but at the same time attended school at my mother’s insistence.
Right before the Taliban came to power, I graduated high school and began to study Law and Political Science at Kabul University. Education has been one of the most important aspects of my life.
One of my neighbors in Kabul was a lovely woman named Narina. I was best friend’s with Narina’s brother so I spent a lot of time with Narina. We slowly grew closer and were happily married in 2002.
Since education has always been so important to me, right after I was married, I sent two of my nephews to a private school in Kabul. When they came home for school break I would test what they had learned. To my surprise they hadn’t learned anything! So I took matters into my own hands and founded a private school in Kabul. This school was one of the first co-ed schools in Afghanistan.
The school became really popular in Kabul and by 2020 had about 2500 students from Kindergarten to 12th grade. I also established a teacher’s training college for women but the Taliban were always watching and trying to infiltrate the school because they did not approve that we offered education to anyone, including girls and women.
My ethnic roots are from the Panjshir province of Afghanistan which has been a great difficulty for me and my family. Panjshir has a long-standing history of resistance against both the Soviets and the Taliban. Because of this, the Taliban would beat, torture, or even kill anyone who was from Panjshir, especially those who do things like start private schools for anyone.
We have had to leave everything behind that we built in Kabul and now have nothing. We hope to be resettled with you because you are working very hard to help resettle Afghans who are in great need like us. Thank you for the work you are doing and for considering my family.
We're the volunteers behind Plutarch for Refugees. Join us!
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Plutarch for Refugees was formed as a collaboration between the congregants of Plutarch Methodist Church (founded during the Civil War) and the artists from 10 Horse Art Center (founded in 2015).
Please join us on this journey of helping a family in desperate need resettle into our loving and welcoming community! |
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How YOU can help!
DonateFinancial supportNearly all refugees arrive on our shores with, literally, just the shirts on their backs. This is certainly the case with the family we are working towards resettling with us. Funding is our number one priority so please head over to the Donate page and make your choice for financial support. |
VolunteerBe involved
Recently arrived refugee families need a lot of non-financial support, too! If you think you have some spare time or a skill set that could be of value in our efforts for resettling the family, please head over to the Volunteer page and let us know how you can help.
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ConnectSpread the word
Do you know how to get media attention to help a family in need? We need you! Public outreach is critical to spreading the word that a refugee family wants to join our community. Please head over to the Contact page and say hello and give us your thoughts.
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