Refugee Women's Network COVID-19 Response Fund

#GAgives on #GivingTuesdayNow—May 5, 2020— Join Refugee Women's Network (RWN)'s  goal of raising $10,000 to support vulnerable immigration and refugee communities. 

For over twenty years, Refugee Women’s Network has met the needs of refugee and immigrant where they’re at, from enrolling their children at school to starting their own businesses. Now, as we all learn to adapt, the communities we serve have become most vulnerable, and we’re asking you to join in us in making sure they are not left behind.

Your generosity will support the following programs & efforts of RWN:

Multicultural Community Health Promoters

• Adapted and innovated the Multicultural Community Health Promoters Program (MCHP) - Trained 12 health promoters to support comprehensive outreach in our newcomer communities.  Combined the health promoters speak more than 10 languages (including Arabic, Chin, Dzongkha, Farsi, Karen, Kurdish, Nepali, Spanish, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu)
• We are working to adapt with a larger and more diverse group of health promoters, as we continue to build  training and outreach approaches
•  Our MCHP for COVID-19 programming works to address the varied needs of newcomers during these challenging times.  The programming is timely, innovative, and community-informed.  

Social Adjustment 

• Food delivery to clients that have tested positive for COVID-19
• SNAP and Medicaid program and application assistance 
• CENSUS Education 
• Connecting clients to local food pantries, food banks and boxed + hot meal delivery services

Economic Empowerment 

• Virtual Workshops with translation to offer accurate information regarding CARES Act & Unemployment Insurance
• Job placement - Yes, even in the midst of COVID-19 
• GDOL and Unemployment Insurance Application Assistance 
•  Small Business Loans Guidance and Loan Resources with (SBA)

At a time when we are all experiencing the pandemic, generosity is what brings people of all races, faiths, and political views together across globe. Generosity gives everyone power to make a positive change in the lives of others and is a fundamental value anyone can act on. It’s a day for everyone around the world to stand together and give back in all ways, no matter who or where we are.

The complex and staggering challenges these incredible, resilient communities are facing currently due to   COVID-19:

• Quarantine and isolation measures have the potential to create more insecurity, specifically for women and girls for whom ‘the home’ is not a safe space.
• Majority of families have lost their jobs & they're unable to file their own employment claims, check the status, or respond to GDOL
• Lack of access to reliable transportation for many that can't afford car purchases
• Difficulty in social-distancing due to communities being housed in over-crowded, multi- generational houses in tightly spaced complexes
•  Language barriers, due to limited-English proficiency for most
• Homes not equipped with wifi access or electronic learning devices leaving many refugee and immigrant children unable to participate in learning from home measures
• Parents unable to help kids with homework because of language barrier challenges
• Women disproportionately bearing the burden of caregiving at home, caring for sick family members and children alike
• Some of our clients due to immigration status do not quality for any benefits currently - no unemployment insurance, no stimulus check

Our community wide day of giving on May 5th is part of a global celebration of giving. We hope you will give local while we give together with the world.

We're in this together and thank you for your continued generosity and invite you to join us in the #RWNHEART challenge. Join us by writing thank you notes to whoever inspires you in this moment and sharing it with us with #RWNHEART - 

Our community wide day of giving on May 5th is part of a global celebration of giving. We hope you will give local while we give together with the world!

P.S. Remember your financial support is tax deductible. 

NEW FOR 2020: The CARES Act includes a universal deduction for charitable contributions for up to $300 for individuals who do not itemize deductions. For those who itemize, the law raises the existing cap on annual contributions from 60% of adjusted gross income to 100%. This applies to cash contributions made in 2020 and can be claimed on tax forms next year.