RALEIGH, N.C. — Afghan refugees new to the state and new to the country are rebuilding their lives nearly six months after the last U.S. forces left Afghanistan to end the longest war in American history. 

What You Need To Know 

Triangle Association of Muslim American Mothers invited Afghan women refugees to a free shopping day 

Dozens of Afghan women came to the local mosque to pick out their clothing, including loose and long sleeve dresses, skirts, sweaters and hijabs 

TAMAM plans to help Afghan refugees during Ramadan in April by providing refugee families with care packages and meals to break their fasts 

The Triangle Association of Muslim American Mothers held an event at the Islamic Association of Raleigh, a mosque, for Afghan women refugees to shop for free. The women who showed up, including new arrivals and those who have been in North Carolina for a few months, are still committed to their religion and culture. They don’t have the money to go shopping at a mall, and even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to buy what it is they need as easily.

TAMAM spent three weeks planning, collecting and sorting through donations for the most vulnerable refugees to come into this country in recent times.

“These are some of the most beautiful scarves that have been donated by the community,” said Sameena Rashid, vice president of TAMAM, as she set up a table of hijabs.

The outpouring of support from the Muslim community means a lot to her.

“As a community we should be supporting our refugee sisters in need,” Rashid said. “We should be able to help them get the clothing that they really need.”

First-time volunteers with TAMAM, including 31-year-old Razia Shah, said they felt compelled to give back to women who have been through a 20-year war.

“I just wanted to help our community,” Shah said. “I heard about this on Facebook, so this was a great opportunity for me to chip in.”

“I feel inclined to help out in a way that is like direct in community in a way that you can see the people that are in need,” said Hanane Jamili, 39, who is also volunteering for the first time. “You can have that engagement with them, and it feels a little bit more personal.”

Refugee organizations, such as World Relief Durham and Lutheran Family Services, organized transportation for Afghan women to come to the event.

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants sent a volunteer, Yasmin Ramzan Ali, to pick out clothes on behalf of eight women who could not attend in person.

“They just arrive here,” said 19-year-old Ramzan Ali. “And they need help because they come from Afghanistan. They come in this situation so, they didn’t bring anything with them.”

Ramzan Ali says the refugees are happy to be safe in America, but the transition has not been easy.

“It’s hard for them. They just came here,” Ramzan Ali said. “Because they cannot speak English, first of all. And then they don’t have any information about America.”

Rashid helps an Afghan refugee, a mother of 8, who is picking out clothes for her daughters and herself. She and her family of 10 are rebuilding their lives. The interaction moves Rashid to tears.

“I’m feeling very emotional,” Rashid said. “Just hearing the stories that they’re saying, how they came with nothing, and the clothes they have are getting torn. So they’re so thankful that they’re able to shop for as many clothes as they want today.”

The refugee, who spent time in Pakistan, spoke to Rashid in Urdu. When asked how her free shopping experience was going, the refugee said: “It’s very good. I am having a lot of fun.”

She added she could find everything she needed at the event and thanked Rashid.

The head of TAMAM, Asma Khan, called the event a success. As far as future plans, Khan said her nonprofit organization is going to help Afghan refugees prepare for Ramadan, which is coming up in April.

“We’ll be doing Ramadan care packages, which will include staples such as flour, oil, sugar, things like that,” Khan said. “We’ll be providing iftars, which is the food that they will break their fasts with. It will be their first Ramadan here. I’m sure it’s going to feel a little lonely, a little scary, a little different. Hopefully, we can keep in touch and provide them with something that feels like a community to them.”

Khan and her team are also hoping to resettle Afghan refugees into apartments, which they plan to furnish. They’ve helped Muslim and non-Muslim refugees with the resettlement process in the past.