On World Refugee Day this June 20, Afghan refugees who have resettled in Lane County will gather at First United Methodist Church at 1376 Olive Street to share their stories, Catholic Community Services of Lane County said in a media release.

Starting at 6 p.m., this free Catholic Community Services (CCS) event will feature a speaker panel, question and answer session, and a documentary film directed by an Afghan refugee who resettled in the Eugene area with assistance from CCS’s Refugee and Immigrant Services Program (RISP).

Those interested in attending can register by visiting ccslc.org/refugee.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population remains in need of humanitarian and protection assistance. This ongoing crisis has displaced millions of Afghans, with the number of refugees swelling in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021. Since 2021, RISP has helped over 30 Afghans resettle in Lane County and become a part of our community. This number will grow dramatically next year, with RISP expecting to welcome up to 60 more Afghan refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admission Program in 2024.

“Most people may have no reason to connect tragic world events to our communities here in Lane County. But the truth is that Lane County is a safe and wonderful destination for fleeing refugees and other immigrants” said Lorri Perreault, Executive Director of Catholic Community Services. “The work that Catholic Community Services does through our Refugee and Immigrant Services Program and our collaborating volunteers at Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County is the bridge that creates successful transitions and resettlements. We hope that celebrating World Refugee Day with our stories will shine a light on the plight of refugees everywhere, but more specifically here in Lane County.”

To support RISP’s efforts with a donation, visit Catholic Community Services online at www.ccslc.org/donate.