2023 Annual Report
Our Purpose: To stabilize refugees from the war in Ukraine who live in Central Washington.
Meeting Needs
Nearly two years after the war began, Friends of Ukraine Refugees is proud to continue assisting local Ukraine refugees as they work to build new lives.
In 2023, twenty-four families (43 adults and 64 children) received financial assistance, primarily rent support and immigration legal services. More than 50 families currently reside in Chelan, Douglas, and Grant counties.
In 2024, we are adjusting our focus to fund immigration legal services as the most pressing need of these refugees. We find this appropriate as families gain stability through employment.
Financial Summary
Donor Support
Six local organizations awarded grant money to FoUR. More than 170 people supported our efforts with monetary donations, large and small. Microsoft and Lamb Weston matched employee donations and volunteer hours with gifts of over $17,000. The Women’s Service League of NCW granted $4,000 for rent assistance. Confluence Health and Wenatchee Valley Medical Group granted $8,000 for rent assistance.
Thank you to all donors — your gift truly makes a difference to Ukrainian refugee families in our area.
99.5% of money spent in 2023 went to direct refugee support.
Highlights
Jobs / College / Small Businesses
Many local refugees continue to work at Crunch Pak. One mom with child, whose husband is in Ukraine, works full-time at Central Washington Hospital. Another has a new business sewing dolls and accessories (see Mama’s Trio Toys on Facebook.) Oleg’s business is professional photography (Oleg Bukovtsov on Facebook). Viktoriia is a stylist at Elements Salon. Alina is a Work/Study student in accounting at Wenatchee Valley College. Many refugees attend English language classes. Refugees in Moses Lake work in construction, work at McDonald’s, work as truck drivers, and attend community college.
Valuable Volunteers
Susan Hufman volunteered her considerable skills to write grant applications for FoUR. Jean Speidel spearheaded and oversaw our legal workshop in October. Cathy Morris and Carolyn Dunn volunteered to improve our website and Facebook page, bringing their professional experience. Countless others answer our calls every day with all manner of giving, from diapers to bicycles to computers.
April
Supporters Kathy and Gene Fairchild invited refugees to shop for free at their home as they gave away most of their furniture and housewares. Best wishes to Kathy and Gene in the simpler life of assisted living.
May
Wenatchee’s First United Methodist Church organized a delightful concert to benefit Friends of Ukraine Refugees. Over $20,000 was donated!
July
Refugee families from Ukraine enjoyed summer camp in Malaga, organized by the Slavic Baptist Church and partially funded by Friends of Ukraine Refugees. We helped one Ukrainian teenager from Wenatchee attend summer camp at Hayden Lake near Coeur d’Alene.
August
Gift cards to purchase clothing and school supplies were provided for 26 refugee children. This project was funded with grant money from NCW Foundation for Youth, Sunrise Rotary Club, and Wenatchee Confluence Rotary Foundation.
October
Our Saturday legal workshop in Wenatchee brought together a Seattle immigration attorney and 28 individuals where each case had an immediate deadline of October 20 to complete applications for Temporary Protected Status and Work Authorization. With an emergency appeal, we were able to raise the $32,855 required to process all cases.
November
Three Wenatchee refugee families received ice skating passes provided by our generous supporters and the Town Toyota Center Arena Youth Enrichment Grant.
December
31 refugee families received boxes of holiday food. Kindly individuals and church groups provided gifts for children and adults, including needed housewares for some families.
2024 Priorities
The board has voted to prioritize legal assistance with our funds in 2024. 88 cases have been identified as having critical Asylum or other legal deadlines.
Estimated costs are $35,390 for U.S. government fees and $138,000 for Seattle attorney fees. As we receive new funds, the attorney will process priority cases to limit emergencies.
Rental assistance will be a lower priority now that jobs are being secured. We will continue to compile and share information with refugees regarding resources available. We encourage the use of free services such as Link Transit, local food banks, clothing giveaways and more.
This report was prepared by Suzi Pitts, Vice President and Volunteer Coordinator.