WORCESTER, Mass. - A local organization works year round to assist the refugee community of Worcester. Most recently, supporting people from Afghanistan who resettled in the area.

Ansaar of Worcester welcomed congressional representative Jim McGovern on Thursday. McGovern spent time with a group of Afghan refugees.

The program works to help clients get acclimated to American culture while bringing in items from their country, like food and clothing. Ansaar said they help hundreds of refugees every month.

Many still have family overseas and say they had almost everything taken away by the Taliban

“I’d like to be a doctor and now I don’t know how I can be a doctor because the Taliban doesn’t let the people send my transcripts to admission here,” said Parwez Emami, a client at Ansaar of Worcester. “It’s too difficult, and the culture has changed. Everything changed.”

“One of the best ways you can help people is to give them a job,” said Mona Ives, president of Ansaar of Worcester. “It’s an opportunity to mentor them and teach them. I was able to help place them in other jobs as well, second jobs. Unfortunately, my funding would only allow me to hire them for 25 hours a week, but they have other jobs now and using this opportunity to work with them, teach them, and guide them.”

Ansaar of Worcester provides food, toys and clothes. They’re looking for donations like housewares.

The organization said they’re not limiting themselves to Afghan refugees and will look to help more refugee groups in the future.