The Jaffrey-Rindge MLK Committee has announced that its MLK National Day of Service project will consist of a community donation drive for Afghan evacuees resettling in New Hampshire.
The International Institute of New England, an agency working on resettling Afghans in New Hampshire, is expecting 75 evacuees. The Jaffrey-RindgeMLK Committee is partnering with the IINE to welcome and assist the evacuees, who are arriving with almost no possessions after fleeing from their homes, which connects with the theme of the organization's celebration this year, “The Power to Heal.”
As of Nov. 19, 38 evacuees have already been accepted in the Manchester region and will continue to be arriving throughout the holiday season. The easiest form of support for the IINE to immediately distribute is monetary and gift card donations. The committee is also collecting new or like-new donations of bedding and bath items such as sheets, pillows, blankets (all sizes), bath mats, towels, hand towels, bathroom trash cans and small trash bags, along with new and unopened packages of personal items, paper products and cleaning products such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, sanitary pads, baby wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, Clorox wipes, laundry detergent, sponges, mops, brooms, dust pans, trash cans, trash bags, shower curtains and liners, toilet brushes and holders and toilet plungers.
Finally, the committee is collecting new or gently used kitchen supplies such as pots, pans, oven mitts, silverware, cups and mugs, glasses, cooking utensils and knives. Cards and letters of welcome are also encouraged, with or without donated items.
The drive will take place from Saturday, Dec. 11, to Saturday Dec. 18. Items may be dropped off at Tieger Realty Co., 25 Turnpike Road, Jaffrey, from Dec. 13 to 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Rindge Recreation Department, 283 Wellington Road, Rindge, Dec. 13 to 17, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Conant High School (for sau47 school district families only), 3 Conant Way, Jaffrey, from Dec. 13 to 17, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. All locations will be closed Sunday, Dec. 12.
Volunteers are needed to help sort and pack donations Saturday, Dec. 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (drop-in) at a location to be determined. Contact Megan Wheeler at 603-831-9130 or write jaffreyrindgemlk@gmail.com to volunteer. People can also check the organization’s Facebook page, MLKCelebrationJaffrey-Rindge, for updates.
The celebration for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. will be Monday, Jan. 17, from 5 to 6 p.m. at a location to be announced. “Abolitionists of Noyes Academy,” a New Hampshire Humanities presentation will take place Thursday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at The Park Theatre in Jaffrey.