EDINBURGH, Ind. — The statewide donation effort to collect items for Afghan refugees at Camp Atterbury will end this week.
The eight Indiana National Guard armories used as collection sites will stop collecting items at 4 p.m. Friday.
The outpouring of support for the Afghans temporarily housed in Indiana has led to a surplus of items, and planning is underway to determine how to provide needed resources in the months ahead to evacuees who have been resettled.
Camp Atterbury is expected to house evacuees through the end of January.
“The success of this initiative to support Operations Allies Welcome reaffirms the undeniable fact that Hoosier Hospitality is alive and well,” Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “I am extremely thankful how Indiana residents stepped up to help these evacuees, many of whom sacrificed so much for our country.”
More than 1.6 million items have been donated to refugees at Camp Atterbury since Gov. Holcomb started the statewide program in September.
Camp Atterbury officials are working to establish a clearinghouse of remaining items to help support Indiana resettlement agencies.
As of Dec. 1, more than 300 Afghans have been resettled in Indiana, with the potential of 700 to be resettled in Indiana over the next few weeks. State and federal personnel have been working with several resettlement agencies, including Exodus International, Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne, South Bend and Indianapolis, The Welcome Network, and the Burmese American Community Institute.
The Camp Atterbury Rail Deployment Facility, at 5921 Schoolhouse Road in Franklin, Ind., 46131, will continue to accept donations until the end of January 2022.
