"Welcome Home. You will be O.K. You are safe now." Those are the first words any client hears from No One Left Behind. The translators and allies who served with our American military at war in Iraq and Afghanistan are veterans and as such deserve our respect and thanks. That's why we engage in Operation Welcome Home. Operation Welcome Home provides newly arrived interpreters with funding and assistance locating, furnishing, and maintaining temporary apartments in their new cities of residence, and when necessary, procures transportation (i.e. through purchasing a bus pass, train pass, airplane ticket, or automobile). Thus far through Operation Welcome Home we have provided furnishings to 60 Afghan and Iraqi families, totaling nearly 300 people, paid the rent of ten families for three months, and purchased cars for ten families (helping each to gain the job vital to their economic survival). The newest recipient of Operation Welcome Home is an Iraqi man named Mohammed, who arrived in the US over a year ago and was basically left to languish on his own in Rochester, NY. We learned of him at the end of January and within days, our local chapter descended on his home to fully furnish it and welcome him into their community. Here's a quick recap from our Rochester chapter head, Ellen Smith: "You will be O.K." those are the words I tell anyone when they are referred to No One Left Behind, and these are the words I said over and over again today to Mohammad as volunteers John, Joe, Aziz, and Tim moved furniture and household goods into his new apartment, and then I came back with more. He was dazed. "Can I keep these things?" "Yes. They are yours to keep." By 1 p.m., he had a huge smile, and was able to say "This is great! These are nice things! Thank-you, Thank-you!" Mohammad served for the U.S. Army in Iraq for five years until insurgents targeted him for death. Then, after letters of recommendation from the U.S. Army, and layers of security clearances after he served shoulder-to-shoulder with our troops, he finally made it to the U.S. He is in his new apartment as of today, furnished through donations made to No One Left Behind. We are also looking for T.V. for him, and a laptop so that he can fill out employment applications, and skype with family left in his native Iraq, and he will get a bike and a bus pass. But, as of 1 p.m. today, his life has turned on the path of hope and dreams for a better tomorrow. Mohammad will be settling in, and we will work on finding him employment, helping him with bus routes, and learning American life, working his way towards citizenship, and helping him to develop networks and friendships. On behalf of all of us at No One Left Behind, thank you for your continued support. Through it, you offer these veterans, like Mohammad - who served with our troops and arrive with nothing but a suitcase - the chance at a long promised better life. One Team. One Fight. To continue your support, please donate today: https://nolb.nationbuilder.com/contribute -Cheers, Matt Zeller