Catholic Charities Of Eastern Oklahoma Volunteers Sorting Through Donations For Afghan Refugees

Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma is constantly going through Tulsans' generous donations for Afghan families who are resettling here.

The Catholic Charities warehouse is a busy place to be, as volunteers spend hours working to help hundreds of Afghan families get the things they need.

"We've seen some fantastic donations," Bronya Zamarin said.

"If we see something that we wouldn't want our family to sleep in, or isn't great quality, then we will send it elsewhere," Zamarin said. "We kinda try to pick the nice stuff, you know, to make it more comfortable and pleasant."

Volunteers like Bronya Zamarin and Patty Hill have been sorting through blankets, dishes, and toiletries for months and said donations have slowed down.

"It's not as much now as it used to be. Like at the very beginning we got lots and lots of stuff," Hill said.

Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma said if there is one thing they do not need right now, it is furniture. Donations have poured in from people and businesses and all of that furniture will stay at the warehouse until families need it.

There is an overload of toothbrushes.

"With the toothbrushes, we have got more than what we asked for. So we have stopped counting, we have stopped inventorying because we have plenty of toothbrushes," Hill said.

But microwaves are hard to come by. Microwaves, along with dishes, silverware, and car seats (both infant/convertible and toddler), are all on Catholic Charities' wish list for donations moving forward.

Volunteers also said baby formula is in short supply.

"Tulsa is a super generous community. And it is something, I don't know if people understand, it's something that will be ongoing," Zamarin said. "And so there are certain things that we'll need to continue to get."

With more than 300 refugees already here, and hundreds more on the way, there is still an opportunity to give.

Catholic Charities asks people to register online with them before making a donation. To register, click here. Catholic Charities said once someone registers what they would like to donate, the website will provide information about drop-off times and location.