My friends,
We Did It! We were able to get Janis and his family to America, where they now safely reside with me just outside of Washington, DC. Since arriving in their new home, Janis and his family have had some incredible experiences.
Within a week of arriving the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, AFP, and Al Jazeera all had Janis and I on to share our story. Congress took note of the coverage and asked us to come testify so that its members could hear first hand about the problems plaguing the Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa programs. And in a rare moment of bipartisan accord and something actually getting done in Washington, a few days ago Congress adopted nearly all of Janis' and my recommendations into law.
He and his family joined me and mine to celebrate their first Thanksgiving and Christmas. They have been humbled beyond description by the kindness of America and the generosity of its people. I cannot begin to adequately describe the overwhelming sense of joy I get watching his children adopt and thrive in their new home and the resulting constant smile on Janis' face.
The truly most humbling moments, however, are when he and I encounter other former interpreters who've recently arrived from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The other night Janis and I were out to dinner with his family, when a man at the table next to us came over. A former interpreter himself, he recognized Janis and me and wanted to thank us for our efforts in publicizing the problems plaguing the visa programs.
Then he asked for help. Like Janis, he was only able to come to America with one suitcase per family member. Like Janis, a charity helped him find an apartment and paid his first month's rent.
Unlike Janis, he doesn't have a media following and the generous support of so many to help him and his family get settled in their new lives. Unlike Janis, they struggle to feed themselves and furnish their apartment. And unlike Janis, he doesn't have your generosity to help him pay his rent while he endeavors to find a job.
And, he's not alone. Apparently, his story is the norm and Janis' is the rare exception.
We plan to fix that.
As our nation celebrates its season of giving, I'd like to thank you for your tremendous support in helping Janis and his family settle and thrive. And, in that same spirit of generosity, I'm asking you to help Janis and I help several Afghan families in dire need.
Will you help these brave Afghan heroes who served our country at war?
Our nation owes these patriots more than just a visa and a quick path to poverty.
Your support will go directly to the Afghan families and be used to help them pay for their apartment rent, utilities, food, clothing, and furniture.
Our goal is simple: Make Janis' resettlement experience the norm and properly help these brave men and women settle into the new American lives they have clearly earned.
December 31, 2013 is the last day to donate this tax year. I hope Janis, the Afghan families, and I can count on your support again.
Many thanks and my best wishes to you for a very Happy New Year!
-Cheers,
Matt
https://fundly.com/help-our-afghan-and-iraqi-allies-like-janis-resettle-in-the-us?noguide=1
