Ukrainian Support Project

Refugee Community Alliance: Ukrainian Support Project

Approximately 17.6 million people in Ukraine will need humanitarian assistance in 2023,

and 5.9 million are displaced and still seeking refuge. Refugee Community Alliance: Ukrainian Support Project was formed to help meet this urgent need. The group’s

mission is to resettle and support a family of Ukrainian refugees in 2023 to the greater

Boston area.

The most urgent need we have is finding housing and raising funds to help support the

family during their first months in the U.S. Under the United States government

program, Uniting for Ukraine, we have flexibility in the types of housing options that are

adequate for Ukrainian refugees. We can source free or reduced cost housing via the

generosity of the community or fundraise to raise the funds for an apartment for the

family. 

How you can help:

1. Donate to support our refugee family

We are fundraising to support the ongoing costs needed to support a quality

standard of living for a refugee family in the greater Boston area. This includes the

cost of rent (depending on housing availability in the community), as well as

expenses such as food, clothing, healthcare, transportation to work, etc.

While housing is the largest expense, there is much more that goes into welcoming

a family. A new apartment or other living space must be set up with furniture, pots

and pans, linens, etc. Families are arriving with very little and need clothing, shoes,

school supplies, and much more. Once we have the housing confirmed we’ll be

collecting donations for these items.

All funds raised will go to support the resettlement of this family in need. The

Ukrainian Support Project: Refugee Community Alliance is committed to supporting

this family until they are self-sufficient, safe and happily resettled within the U.S. 

2. Help secure housing

If you have room in your house and heart to open your home to an Ukrainian family,

please contact us. This is actually the most common route for housing taken under the

Uniting for Ukraine program. If you are open to this option, the Ukrainian Support

Project group would act as a key partner to you and support all ongoing needs

associated with re-settlement. If interested, housing options we are seeking include the

following:

In-law suites 

Furnished basement or furnished attic

Extra bedrooms in your home

**all options must include access to the kitchen and bathroom**

The next option would be affordable housing. If you have any insight into

opportunities for reduced or rent-free housing, please contact us. If we cannot find a

reduced or rent-free housing we will need to increase our fundraising effort to support

the family in their own apartment or home. 

About Us:

With the end of the Ukrainian war still not yet in sight, the United States government

created a program called Uniting for Ukraine, which allows for private citizens to

financially sponsor Ukrainians to find safety in the U.S. The US Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS) Migration and Refugee Services has issued an appeal to

parishes and other community groups to consider stepping up and serving as “Welcome

Circles” to financially support a family and provide for their needs upon arrival. This

“Welcome Circle” structure brings together volunteers who are committed to helping

support Ukrainians resettle into the U.S. where they can live safely.

Refugee Community Alliance: Ukrainian Support Project was formed in response to

this call. The MA-based group is affiliated with Reading POWIR (People Organized to

Welcome Immigrants and Refugees). Over the past five years, Reading POWIR

supported the successful resettlement of a family of Ethiopian refugees, and is currently

supporting two Afghan refugee families who came to the U.S. in late 2021.

The Ukrainian Support Project team proudly includes several members of Reading

POWIR and we are excited to learn from their past successful resettlement projects

The Ukrainian Support Project also works closely with Catholic Charities, an organization that welcomes and integrates immigrants, refugees and asylees, and helps

to organize Welcome Circles and POWIR groups. Once we have a refugee family,

Catholic Charities will also provide some services to the refugees through their

networks.

We are associated with the Old South United Methodist Church in Reading which

serves as the fiduciary for the Ukrainian Support Project. Old South UMC acts as the

“financial home” of the project and stores our funds for safekeeping as a certified

nonprofit.

The Ukrainian Support Project is a secular, interdenominational group, involving people

from multiple local communities of faith. Our members come from several different

towns and include people who are passionate about helping others. All are welcome to

join us!

Contact Us:

Refugee Community Alliance: Ukrainian Support Project

Website: refugeecommunityalliance.com

Fiduciary: Old South United Methodist Church

Members of Core Welcome Circle: Hilary Kopp-Trismen, Paige Montrone, Kathy Knight-Heath, Frank Andrews, Erika O'Mara

Supported by: Catholic Charities, Reading POWIR, Old South United Methodist Church