Since the U.S. began pulling out of Afghanistan and the Taliban mobilized to take control of the country, U.S. veterans have jumped into action to help save allies who helped the United States.

Pearl River native and Air Force veteran Michael Tritt served in Iraq for four tours and then went to Afghanistan as a contactor, where he befriended a man named Gholam, while serving as an interpreter for the United States.

As the Taliban took city by city, the veteran scrambled to get Gholam and his family out at Kabul Airport.

In their attempts to flee, the family was fired upon, beaten by the Taliban, and narrowly escaped the bombings that killed American military members.

After nearly 10 failed attempts, eventually they found an Afghan commando who drove the family 10 hours away to a different airport, where they escaped to Qatar.

Tritt says, "They lost everything just to have a fresh start, that's all they want… a fresh start with hope."

That veteran tells News 12 he's opening his Arizona home to Gholam and his family and plans to help them start over in the United States.

Tritt is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9215 in Upper Nyack.

The post is collecting donations to help the thousands of Afghan refugees now in the United States start over.

The drive will take place Oct. 2 and Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Veterans will be collecting clothing and items at 250 Birchwood Ave., Upper Nyack, NY, 10960.

If there are any questions, call Commander Damien Shea on his cell phone at 757-803-4382 or email vfwpost9215unny@gmail.com.