Afghan refugees could arrive in Springfield in a few weeks' time — and they need help

Over the next few months, Springfield will become home to a hundred refugees fleeing Afghanistan and the nonprofit charged with resettling the Afghan nationals is asking for help.

Based on the overflowing roomful of prospective volunteers at a Wednesday night informational meeting, it appears the Afghan refugees may get the help they need.

The Southwest Missouri branch of the International Institute of St. Louis was only notified last week they would be caring for the Afghan nationals in a few weeks' time.

“We were approved for this program, which we didn't think we were going to be. We didn't think – we're just such a small office. But 49,000 people is a lot of people, and they're trying to find homes for them," said IISTL site manager Rebekah Thomas.