Cleveland's Afghan Community Association is on a Herculean fundraising mission to purchase a community center in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood.

Driving the news: The association is trying to raise more than $250,000 through a GoFundMe page to acquire and renovate a former church at 2806 Daisy Ave.

The big picture: The Cleveland Afghan population has surged from about 30 families to more than 300 in the past two years.

• Refugees arrived in Northeast Ohio in an unprecedented wave after the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Why it matters: With limited resources and often little or no English-language proficiency, refugees require intensive social and cultural services.

• The association has been providing ad hoc services every other Saturday at a Cleveland mosque — matching families who have specific challenges with a roster of community volunteers — but a physical community center would provide those services on a regular schedule.
• Plus: They could offer English classes and Afghan cultural education and appreciation.

What they're saying: "We do anything a social worker would do," Ahmad Farid Aria, the leader of the Afghan Community Association, tells Axios. "We have people who have never waited for a bus, never requested an Uber, don't know how to schedule a doctor's appointment, and who don't speak English."

The latest: Aria says they have raised roughly $20,000 so far, but are short of expectations due to the inability of the Afghan community to contribute much on its own.

• "Most of these families live paycheck to paycheck and can barely save a few dollars for themselves," he says.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: The Afghan Community Association officially formed in March last year, shortly after the publication of a story I wrote in Scene examining Cleveland's Afghan immigration boom.

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Love is in the air throughout the Cleveland area as Valentine's Day nears.

• Here are five lovely events to give you all the feels.

Tower City's Love in the Land Valentine's Day party includes music, a ballroom dance demonstration and a sweetheart candy bar.

• 3-6pm Saturday.
• Free.

Cupid's Undie Run will see hundreds of Clevelanders running in their underwear and pajamas downtown in support of those suffering from Neurofibromatosis.

• Noon-4pm Saturday.
• Tickets start at $45.

Cleveland Bazaar is hosting a day of art, food trucks and drinks at Lake Affect Studios. Local artists will be selling Valentine-themed gifts.

• 10am-6pm Saturday.
• Free.

Sylk's in Maple Heights will feature Ohio R&B singers Willie Mac and Arielle Hall performing the baby-making music of Babyface and Toni Braxton.

• 4:30-10pm Saturday.
• Tickets start at $50.

"I Do" Weddings at Market Square in Crocker Park offers couples a chance to avoid expensive wedding costs with short but sweet ceremonies.

• 2-7pm Tuesday.
• Registration is required; the ceremony fee is $100 (and yes, you'll be legally married).

Go deeper: Check out Eventbrite's listings for more ways to celebrate Valentine's Day.

👨🏼‍🎤 Duran Duran brings its latest tour to Blossom Music Center on Sept. 10. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's education programs. (Billboard)

🥪 Karl's Inn of the Barristers, which has been serving up sandwiches in the Warehouse District for more than 30 years, is closing next month. (Cleveland Scene)

🚆 Gov. Mike DeWine has applied for federal money to study the feasibility of Amtrak expansion in Ohio. (Cleveland.com)

⚽The Cleveland Crunch are looking for somewhere to play the final two home games of the season in March after parting ways with the I-X Center. (News 5 Cleveland)

LeBron James takes the court for his NBA debut on Oct. 29, 2003, at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

• Now, almost 20 years later, he is the NBA's all-time scoring king.