The story of how we got started

We are a coalition of Afghan American non-profit and for-profit organizations working together to raise funds to help the most-needy in Afghanistan cope with the COVID-19 shutdown. Instead of each organization raising funds individually, we are working together to share resources and be more effective in executing common goals.

January 2012
ARA organizes its first food distribution in Herat Province
June 2016
We did 11 food distributions in one month, helping a total of 1500+ families and distributed a total of 7800+ food packages.
August 2017
We did food distributions in Herat, Mazar, Kabul, Farah, and Kunduz, helping a total of 1200+ families.

Since ARA was a newly started non-profit, we didn't received our official 501(c)(3) document.

"It was unbelievable to see the amount of support we received from national and international donors beside the amazing community of volunteers"

Mike Whipple, IOC President

April 2018
Jawzjan, Faryab, Paktia, and Logar provinces were added to the list of distributions and a total of 2100+ families were included.

"The fact that there were so many people willing to take part to do something good was absolutely mind blowing"

Ghulam Feda, ARA founding member

June 2018
ARA already raised a total of $200,000 and organized a total of 20 food distributions across 11 provinces.

International Orphan Care took the responsibility to be the ARA's fiscal sponsor so we could start raising funds and operating as a non-profit in the US without having to have the 501(c)(3) documents immediately.

November 2019
A total of $40,000 were raised in a single campaign and 3 food distributions were organized with the raised funds.
January 2020
Already, 70% of our donation receipts were women and children who didn't have providers for their families.
April 2020
We organized yet the second round of food distribution, due to immediate need, in the following provinces(Jalalabad, Kunar, Logar, Kapisa)

We mostly do a second round in provinces we get reports that needs immediate help. The provinces above were the ones that needed help.

June 2020
We raised $450,000 in a single campaign with the help of David Lee, a prominent angel investor.

"After talking with the members of the ARA and IOC, I decided to open a campaign to help Afghans in need and we raised $450,000 in a single campaign"

David Lee, Angel Investor

Today ARA is a team chasing a dream- A dream to provide needy Afghans with their basic daily life needs.