When tragedy struck a family of Afghan refugees three weeks after they had arrived in Ithaca in June 2023, they were left in an immensely difficult situation. The patriarch of the family of six was killed in an automobile accident, robbing the family of a cherished loved one who was also expected to be the household’s sole income earner. The question of how they would make ends meet was daunting.

In the weeks following the tragedy, IWR established a crisis fund to assist the family and build a reserve to handle any future crises. Thanks to a generous $25,000 donation, along with $25,000 in matching funds and widespread community support, IWR has raised $73,452 for the fund to date. The fund has since been used to help the family with household and health care expenses.

The family is also receiving assistance from other organizations and community groups, including a local mosque. Thanks to that additional aid, IWR anticipates that it will be able to provide them with long-term support.

“The outpouring of support for this family that has come from Ithaca, Tompkins County, and beyond has been truly heartening,” IWR Executive Director Casey Verderosa said. “It has exceeded our expectations, allowing us to plan to provide the family with long-term support beyond our initial estimations.”

A portion of the crisis fund will be held in reserve so that IWR can assist other refugee families who experience an emergency event after resettlement. In October, IWR helped cover the cost of sending the remains of a recently deceased refugee to Iraq for burial.

“The initial impetus for the creation of the fund was one family’s tragedy, but we know that crises may arise for other families in the future,” Verderosa said. “The fund will ensure that IWR is able to respond immediately to such families’ extraordinary needs.”