Heidi Henkle, Chairman
Broomfield Resettlement Task Force
It has been two years since the United States withdrew troops from Afghanistan, about 2,600 evacuees have settled in Colorado. Heidi Henkle shared the stories of Ahmad Siddiqi, Salma Rahin and several other families who have settled in Broomfield.
Heidi explained that the Broomfield Resettlement Task Force is a group of volunteers who are dedicated to helping Afghan refugees settle into their new homes in Broomfield. They provide a wide range of support services to ease the transition for these families. Some of the services they offer include:
- Housing assistance to help refugees find suitable housing in the area.
- They assist with providing computers and other necessary equipment for work.
- Transportation: The task force helps refugees find cars and obtain insurance.
- Toys for children: They provide toys and other items for children to help them feel more at home.
- English language lessons to help refugees communicate effectively.
- Job placement assistance:
- Social services to help navigate various social services available to them.
Many of these refugees have sever medical needs so Broomfield Resettlement Task Force helps them find dentists and doctors for medical attention.
The Resettlement Task Force relies on funding from various organizations, including the Broomfield Humanitarian Fund that is designed to provide financial resources to individuals and families who have been displaced from their country of origin due to military conflict, natural disaster, persecution, or other qualified reasons.
The Broomfield Rotary Club has also contributed to the cause by providing random acts of kindness. For example, Rotary has funded horseback riding lessons on behalf of Nazar Tonkoshkur, a young Ukrainian refugee who was having trouble adapting to life in America.
You can find more information regarding the Broomfield Resettlement Task Force form these interviews Heidi Henkle has given with Colorado Public Radio and Boulder Daily Camera.