In April 2022, our volunteer Tatiana arranged a shelter for Ukrainian families on the premises of a church in Costa Mesa. Initially, the shelter provided short-term accommodation for new-coming Ukrainians who crossed the border with Mexico. In August 2022, the church collaborated with I Care Ministries to extend the shelter indefinitely.
The shelter has hosted more than 70 Ukrainian refugees and created a fantastic community of local volunteers. Most refugees were able to rent apartments within a few months. They are successfully employed, significantly improved their language skills, and have made many friends. The shelter in Costa Mesa is a great example of how individual efforts can make a change and generate an extensive network of support and solidarity.
Last-Minute Push for Russia Sanctions Bill
The American Coalition for Ukraine’s (ACU) fall Ukraine Action Summit arrived at a pivotal moment: the final days before the House vote on the Russia sanctions bill.As lawmakers weighed their positions, advocates for Ukraine met with them as constituents, in some cases becoming the last people to make a direct appeal before the vote.Interviews with participants offer a close-up view of those tense hours: lawmakers’ hesitation, advocates’ arguments, and the effort to turn uncertainty into support and a “yes” vote.Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) had spent more than a year pressing Congress to adopt sweeping new sanctions against Russia. Weeks after his death in July, the Senate renamed the legislation in his honor and passed it 86 to 11, an overwhelming bipartisan vote that sent the measure to the House.
