Our Story
Ruslana, Sasha, and their three young boys were living in Kyiv when the bombs began to drop. Through business contacts, they were able to flee to the United States, but soon after they arrived in California, their help dried up. On one of the worst nights of her life, Ruslana spent her family's last savings on a hotel room in Redding, wondering if they would have enough to eat the next d
ay. The situation changed overnight when a community member stepped in and helped connect the family to housing and food. This caring person reached out to others, and soon, gifts of diapers, clothing, and food began pouring in. Things really began turning around for the family when the Redding Refugee Sponsor Circle, a brand-new interfaith coalition of concerned citizens, got involved: with their help, the family completed their work authorization paperwork, enrolled their school-aged son in school, applied for their driver's licenses, signed up for community health care, and met with an attorney to see what their next steps would be for attaining permanent legal status in their new home. Ruslana now greets each new day with a smile, knowing that she and her family are loved and cared for and that they have a brighter future
Thousands of individuals like Ruslana and her family have been fleeing violence and devastation in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world. Many of these families have come to the United States for refuge, and more are on the way. Those who come to the North State will find relief through Redding Refugee Sponsor Circle, whose mission is to create a soft landing for refugees in Redding and serve as a local hub for resettlement information and services. We are dedicated to welcoming newcomers like Ruslana to our community and helping them secure the resources they will need to make a smooth and successful transition into independent living. Working in partnership, we are raising funds to help refugee newcomers meet their initial housing, food, and transportation costs while we connect them with legal, health, educational, and employment resources in our community.