Our World, Our Community
This Critical Need Alert will provide immediate financial resources to nonprofit organizations serving refugees in central Ohio.
THANK YOU! WE SURPASSED OUR GOAL!
Thanks to an outpouring of incredible generosity, the Critical Need Alert: Our World, Our Community, surpassed its $500,000 goal. To date, $587,000 has been raised to support seven local nonprofits working to resettle refugees coming to central Ohio to escape volatile situations in their home countries.
The CNA, launched on April 4, was developed as an opportunity to join together as a community to provide immediate support to seven local nonprofits serving the hundreds, potentially thousands, of refugees coming into central Ohio.
Our community's investment in this effort provides these organizations with the immediate financial support needed to continue their good work—and your commitment illustrates a welcoming spirit that is inspiring to all. We are honored to work with you all to build a kind, just, and connected community.
ABOUT THE NEED
WE LIVE IN A DYNAMIC, WELCOMING COMMUNITY where our neighbors come from countries around the world. As Columbus’s demographics continue to change, we recognize that immigrants and refugees are an integral part of our present, our future, and our workforce. Franklin County’s foreign-born population has grown by 336 percent since 1990—and now makes up 11 percent of central Ohio’s population. These individuals help weave the fabric of our community. But oftentimes they arrive in the United States with little more than the hope for a better future.
Just as local refugee and immigrant-serving organizations have had to scale back and reduce staff in the past few years, there has been an increase in demand for their services due to recent world events.
Volatile situations in multiple countries, including Afghanistan and Ukraine, have resulted in individuals and families being airlifted out in a matter of days—leaving, in many cases, literally everything behind.
As a result, hundreds (and potentially thousands) of refugees are coming to, or are already in, central Ohio. This shift happened so quickly that local nonprofit organizations that help resettle them have had very little time to plan and ramp up resources and critical, basic needs like weather-appropriate clothing and housing.
RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality dba ABLE
MISSION:
Protect and defend family unity and community stability through legal services to vulnerable, low-income immigrants and refugees.
Community Refugee and Immigration Services, Inc.
MISSION:
Help refugees and immigrants reach safety and stability, sustain self-sufficiency, and achieve successful integration into the central Ohio community.
Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services
MISSION:
To be the focal point of integration for immigrants, refugee families, and low-income individuals in central Ohio in order to improve the quality of their lives, to facilitate their integration through education, training, supportive services, resettlement, self-development opportunities, and to increase the awareness of their culture and heritage in central Ohio.
Fugees Family Inc
MISSION:
Advancing educational justice for refugee and immigrant youth, Fugees Family empowers refugees and immigrants to integrate successfully into their new country by providing them the support and structure they need to realize their vast potential.
Jewish Family Services
MISSION:
Helping individuals and families achieve economic self-sufficiency and emotional stability.
Legal Aid Society of Columbus
MISSION:
Provide civil legal aid and advocacy to combat unfairness and injustice and to help people rise out of poverty.
US Together, Inc.
MISSION:
Assist refugees and immigrants who have escaped wars, violence, tyranny, and extreme poverty to find safe haven in central Ohio.