YEAR IN REVIEW 2023
This year, 2023, was the beginning of Village Outreach. Although our volunteers had created the refugee programs in place many years ago, we were able to partner together to launch a full nonprofit. This was a big year for our nonprofit, and your support has made a significant difference to our success and those who have experienced unimaginable hardships. We would love to show you our year in review:
Our medical clinic helps families with their medical exams for immigration paperwork. This year, we provided free medical immigration services to more than 120 refugees and asylum seekers applying for United States citizenship from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Venezuela.
Our English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program focuses on building relationships with individuals learning English. We offer classes in five levels of English – starting at basic. Over 160 students were a part of this last academic year, and more than 27 countries were represented!
Our immigration legal clinic is designed to help with basic questions and consultations for families struggling to navigate our legal system. This year, we helped multiple families from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, China, and Syria. Many of the cases were on family reunification and gaining citizenship.
We also had some very unique special events, such as:
A refugee resource fair & cultural celebration - more than 20 organizations gathered to help immigrants and refugees receive food, medical, legal services, etc. Over 100 families showed up.
We cohosted a refugee art show with Lutheran Community Services. Professional artists with refugee experiences held an art show at Village Church, where over 50 people showed up to support the artists.
We also held a refugee school supply drive, collecting dozens of supplies for afterschool programs to help refugee families get caught up in the current school curriculum.
As we look back on our first year, we are thrilled to announce that it has been a great success. With the unwavering support of our dedicated volunteers and generous donors, we have significantly impacted the lives of the families we serve. However, as we move forward with our mission, we realize the magnitude of the challenges still ahead. We need your assistance to continue our work and expand our efforts to reach even more families in need. Together, we can create sustainable change and make a lasting difference in the lives of those who are most vulnerable. Please consider donating to be a part of our success story of 2024.
Thank you for your partnership, support, and generosity!
Michelle Juetten
Village Outreach Executive Director
