Humanitarian efforts are underway to help Afghan refugees who are arriving in New Jersey begin the process of starting over.

About 150 Afghan refugees are already at New Jersey's Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, with more to come.

Most arrived with nothing but the clothes on their back.

At Marlboro Community Center, it's only day one of the collection drive and donations for Afghan interpreters and refugees at the joint base are already pouring in.

Steve and Shari Grant, of Manalapan, whose son just graduated the Naval Academy, brought toys, clothes, cleaning supplies and toiletries for the dozens of families who just arrived in the Garden State.

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"Trying to make some normalcy for kids and families and just hoping to bring joy into their lives as they try to assimilate," Shari Gran says.

The NJ Veterans Chamber of Commerce organized the humanitarian effort with guidance from the Red Cross and the Joint Base. The Chamber of Commerce is working with other veteran groups and veteran volunteers who look to give back to those who helped them and our country for two decades.

"Without their help, we would've been flying blind and solo and they actually saved many, many lives because of their interaction with the U.S. troops," says retired Col. Jeff Cantor. "The thought was 'why don't we support them?' Because they supported us, so let's give them what they need."

The donations are for the Afghan refugees but also for U.S. troops who are also on their way home to the U.S. and to New Jersey.

Cantor, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, is heartbroken to see what's happening in Afghanistan and that more haven't made it out safely yet. This is his way to give back to those who have.

"These are people that really risked their lives to help American soldiers, American Marines, American airmen and are coming here to get out because they are facing certain death," he says.

There are 15 drop-off locations across the state.

Trucks will deliver the donations to the refugees on the Joint Base once every two weeks.

Right now, the Red Cross says the most urgent items are towels, clothing, sandals, laundry detergent, toiletries and soccer balls.