WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The first group of refugees from Afghanistan will be arriving to our area soon, according to the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce.
Organizers are looking for donations of household items to help the families settle and be ready for Wisconsin. The collection point will be the Whitewater Music Hall every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon or by appointment.
Items needed include:
- Vacuum cleaners
- Teapots (stovetop or electric)
- Laptops with chargers (five years old or newer)
- Unlocked smartphones
- Throw blankets
- Twin sheets
- Home toolkits and drills
- Bicycles
- Mops and buckets
- Brooms and dustpans
- Toilet paper
- Paper towel
- Napkins
- Laundry detergent
- Hand soap
- Dish soap
Not all of the refugees coming to Wausau are currently at Fort McCoy, where up to 13,000 people from Afghanistan are currently being housed.
Charity groups have been told that up to 800 refugrees will be permanently settled in Wisconsin, with about 100 in Wausau by the end of 2022. The first group, of 8 to 10, are expected to be in Wausau by the end of this year.
