August 2025

Dear Friend,

This month, Al Jazeera published a story featuring Hanifa Girowal, an LSSNCA program participant who was evacuated from Kabul after the Taliban seized the city on August 15, 2021.

Hanifa is among the hundreds of thousands of Afghans evacuated as part of Operation Allies Welcome - the largest non-combatant evacuation in U.S. history.

In recent months, the administration has made policy changes that affect Afghans in the United States and abroad, including stripping their legal protections and limiting pathways for Afghans abroad to travel to the U.S. safely.

“I have an approved asylum case, which gives a certain level of protection, but we still don’t know the future of certain policies on immigration,” Girowal said. “I am very much fearful that I can be subjected to deportation at any time.”

With your support, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) has welcomed and served nearly 8,500 Afghan allies to the greater Washington, D.C. area since 2021. LSSNCA continues to provide housing, education, employment, mentorship, wellness services, and legal assistance to Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, who continue to arrive.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and support.

With gratitude,

Chief Executive Officer

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area

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Featured Blog

August is Make-a-Will Month – a will is more than a legal document. It’s an act of kindness: a document to reduce uncertainty, care for your loved ones, and leave a lasting impact on the causes you care about. LSSNCA’s Chief Development Officer, Nikki Salzman, shares why making a will matters and how it can be used as a force for good.

Continuing Your Legacy: How Planned Giving Can Make an Impact

Highlights

Back-to-School Backpack Drive

This summer, LSSNCA distributed more than 330 backpacks and school supplies to students across Virginia and Maryland.

We are grateful to the volunteers, community members, and congregations who donated and supported distribution efforts.

Get Involved

LSSNCA continues to serve Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders who have self-traveled to the United States.

Help sustain this work by:

Advocating – Join our friends at Global Refuge to call on Congress to support the Afghan SIV program.
Donating – Your gift helps LSSNCA provide housing, job training, and other essential services to refugees.
Volunteering – Opportunities range from one-day events to longer-term mentorships.

Stay Connected with LSSNCA