When the 2021 crisis in Afghanistan began, many of us in Kewanee began to question and research what we could do to help those being affected. As we learned about the structure of community groups (sponsor groups), we also began to see many local people interested in volunteering their time and resources to help. The community’s spirit was inspiring and in February of 2022 we formed the non-profit, Kewanee Welcomes.

That spring, we welcomed our first round of families into Kewanee — three families from Afghanistan. Seeing our community embrace these people and cheer them on was a huge green light for us to carry on. Through pathways created by the U.S. government, individuals can arrive under a humanitarian parole visa which allows them to live and work in the U.S. for two years. This pathway has allowed us to continue helping families and individuals from Ukraine, Venezuela, Iraq, and in the future, Haiti and Cuba.

Many in Kewanee and the surrounding area want to help relieve suffering for those coming out of tragic situations. Kewanee Welcomes gives our community something tangible to rally towards, allowing us to act on our compassion and sense of justice by supporting those who have been displaced.