AN ONGOING REFUGEE CRISIS BEGAN IN EUROPE IN LATE FEBRUARY 2022
AFTER RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE. NEARLY 6 MILLION REFUGEES FLEEING UKRAINE ARE RECORDED ACROSS EUROPE, WHILE AN ESTIMATED 8 MILLION OTHERS HAD BEEN DISPLACED WITHIN THE COUNTRY BY LATE MAY 2022.
We foster connections and community through youth and family-centered programs, education, outreach, and emergency assistance. We envision a world where all refugee children have opportunities to develop to their highest potential through access to education, the arts, and the outdoors and to reignite hope for a bright future.
To welcome newly arrived refugee and immigrant children and their families.
LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I vividly remember the date - February 24, 2022 I was standing in my kitchen when I overheard the news anchor reporting that Russia had officially invaded Ukraine For those first few days, it felt surreal and unimaginable The images were stark, heartbreaking, and shocking Was Russia invading a sovereign nation? Millions were outraged worldwide, across the United States, and right here along the Wasatch Front in Utah. Utahns are known for their big hearts and acts of service to help others. As we watched the thousands of babies and children in strollers, in carriers, walking hundreds of miles, most of them leaving the only homes they had ever known, our hearts ached for these children and families, for their loss, their pain, and suffering of having to say goodbye to loved ones, pets, and their homes I was immediately reminded of the Syrian Refugee Crisis and how the Syrians showed incredible strength and fortitude As I stood there, I now saw that same strength in the Ukrainians
As the enormity of yet another global crisis began to sink in, our team sprang to action and reached out to partners in Greece from our humanitarian work there. One connection led to another, and the humanitarian requests began pouring in. Just as in the Syrian Refugee Crisis, our community along the Wasatch Front rose to the challenge Once we put out the call for help, our incredible, loving community stepped up in a big way
People from as far as Logan to Kanab started reaching out. Volunteers began organizing packing parties, and leaders of companies stepped up and offered their employees paid time off to come down and volunteer at our warehouse. Church leaders organized drives and parties to pack the aid. Our local Salt Lake schools reached out and got even their youngest students involved in packing diapers and baby socks Our focus was simple, three kits - Baby Kits, Hygiene Kits, and First Aid Kits As the aid started piling up, we found a second storage unit to rent - the needs were immense, and our community was all hands on deck
on or story that would find its way to and donated $1.25 to help Ukraine, or y went to work and started making te the funds to Project Hope 4 Kids Or Alina is a Ukrainian who was born in up for adoption by her birth mother to she wanted to come and help, to do h mother for the incredible amount of ould have a chance at a better life.
pirit and the strength of the Ukrainian s on A family's decision to flee their e hope that, as parents, we can watch nity and a new sense of hope.
et hundreds of my fellow Utahns and e look forward to continuing our work
ERIN PLAYING GAMES WITH TWO REFUGEE SISTERS IN OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM IN NEOCHORI, A VILLAGE IN IOANNINA, GREECE. 2018.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES VOLUNTEER AT THE RIVERTON HARVEST PARK 8TH WARD IN RIVERTON, UTAH.
OUR PROGRAMS
Welcoming
YOUTH AND FAMILY
We host youth field trips and community and cultural events throughout the year.
LOCAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE
Our goal is to fill gaps in governmental services by offering our Hope Kits, First Year Baby Kits, and Voices for Refugee Children Art Kits to provide families with basic necessities and tools for creative expression.
GLOBAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE
We focus on international emergency relief assistance, sending aid globally.
our new neighbors with authentic connections and a compassionate community.
OUR COMMUNITY WROTE AND DREW THOUSANDS OF LETTERS TO OUR UKRAINIAN AND SYRIAN FRIENDS SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR MILLIONS WHO HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are at the heart of our work. Their contributions are essential to carry out our mission.
In 2022, we engaged over 2,651 volunteers at more than 50 service events to pack more than 27,206 Supply Kits with 872 hours donated to help ease the immediate needs of over 27,000 refugees.
I dropped off the kits today. We had a great time putting them together. One of the girls looked up how to write some words in Ukrainian and wrote it on the notes. I love that she did that. It was an amazing experience for all of us.
-LeAnne Black, VolunteerHYGIENE KIT
OUR YOUNGEST VOLUNTEERS SMILE BIG AS THEY HELP PUT BABY KITS TOGETHER FOR UKRAINE AT CAPITAL CHURCH IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
