On September 10, Afghan Home, a nonprofit organization dedicated to welcoming and supporting the Afghan community in the United States, hosted an event to celebrate Afghan Independence Day. 

Since last year, more than 70,000 people were evacuated from Afghanistan and over 12,000 evacuees came to the Northern Virginia area. "In Afghanistan, for the last four decades, there was fear and uncertainty. Afghan Home held this event to welcome newcomers and provide the opportunity to be connected with each other," said Shafiq Qureshi, community health specialist with the Fairfax County Health Department and an Afghan American himself.

Over 6,000 newcomers attended the daylong event which was held at Bull Run Park.

The Fairfax County Health Department and the Fairfax County CareVan and other community organizations attended the event to provide information and resources to attendees. Family assistance workers, community health workers, and other members of the Health Department connected people to County services, answered questions, and discussed COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, Shafiq, with help from two of his children, distributed materials from the Health Department's Disease Carrying Insects Program (DCIP) to those in attendance.

"Supplying these materials, connecting people to resources, and providing support helps strengthen the capacity of our community for a healthy life," said Shafiq.