Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Zafar has been in the United States since March. He was extremely motivated to find a job right away in order to support his family, but COVID made the job-search process challenging. IRC employment specialists secured him a position in a local food processing plant. The job requires steel-toed boots. The factory is in a remote location, inaccessible by public transportation. Thankfully there is a vanpool, but there is a weekly fee. Your donation will help Zafar with the cost of his safety boots, a month of vanpool fees, and a backpack and insulated lunch bag for the long commute.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Asmaan and her husband arrived in Richmond from Afghanistan less than a year ago, when she was just 20 years old. The young couple was brought to safety thanks to the Special Immigrant Visa program, meaning their lives were at risk at home because of his work for the U.S. government. He studied IT for two years at home and would like to continue his education, but upon arrival to Richmond took a full-time job that would help cover rent and bills. Asmaan has dreams of becoming a nurse, but also took an entry-level job when she first arrived in Richmond. She had to resign from the food-service job when standing on her feet for many hours became painful due to her pregnancy. Having only one income has put a strain on the couple's finances. They could use a little help getting ready for the arrival of their first baby. They were given a crib, but need all the supplies like crib sheets, a stroller, a newborn bathtub, clothing, and diapers.

Partner: Peter Paul Development Center

Advisor: Sherika Chew

Felicia needs assistance paying DMV and Court fees that have been charged as a result of a car accident so she can reinstate her license. Fleicia is a single mother of four and works as a PCA assistant. Driving is essential for her because her agency sends her to several elderly clients homes per week on different sides of town. She also has to make sure she is able to get her children to childcare before she is even able to accept any of these jobs. Having to depend on others to transport her and her family where they need to be has presented a huge financial burden for her. Help with clearing these fines will get her back to working regularly and her budget back on track.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Groceries. Shawonna is employed part-time. She is a single mother of three growing girls. With everyone home from school, she finds herself in serious need of groceries, Since the pandemic. Shawonna and her family truly has been impacted by COVID-19. This type of assistance will make a difference.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Groceries. Freddie is an enrolled participant in OCWB's Workforce Program. He has just finished barbering school. As he was about to begin his apprenticeship. Freddie also lost his dad due to COVID-19. With unexpected expenses associated with burying his father Freddie is need of food for his household. This type of assistance will make a big difference for Freddie during this time.

Partner: St. Joseph's Villa

Advisor: Drew Melson

Help with Groceries. Monique is a single mom whose son has autism. She is hoping to move to a safer apartment community where her son can play outside, but is currently having a hard time making ends meet after her hours were reduced. Assistance with groceries will help Monique save to provide a more healthy environment for raising her son.

Partner: St. Joseph's Villa

Advisor: Drew Melson

Help with Groceries and Clothing. Alicia received full custody of her child after experiencing domestic abuse. Her child has autism and severe anxiety. She is currently staying at home out of concern for her child’s safety and is unable to work. Assistance with groceries and clothing for her child would help Alicia through this rough patch as she works with the Villa’s Community Based Services.

Partner: St. Joseph's Villa

Advisor: Drew Melson

Help with bedding and household items. Micah and Jacob are best friends who look out for each other, and have been in and out of homelessness together for 10 years. One has medical issues due to years of living on the street. Now that they have found an affordable apartment to share through the Villa’s housing and homeless services, they plan on finding employment to maintain their new home. They moved in with nothing, and are in need of household essentials such as bedding and kitchenware to assist their transition as they search for job opportunities.

Partner: Peter Paul Development Center

Advisor: Sherika Chew

Felicia needs help with transportation costs of getting back and forth to doctors' appointment since her recent surgery. Felicia is a Personal Care Assistant and mother of 3. She is temporarily unable to work because she is recovering from surgery and has to visit the doctor several times a week. Her job does not provide medical leave so her budget is being dramatically impacted. She needs a little assistance to get through this rough patch until she can get back to the work she loves.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

At home, Shirzad provided security at the US Embassy in Kabul during the Afghan War. After more than two years of service to the US and our allies, his life and that of his family were being threatened. Therefore, Shirzad and his family were granted Special Immigrant Visas to allow them to come to the United States and start new lives here in Richmond. Besides helping them get settled, the IRC found Shirzad a job where he will clean factory equipment and requires steel-toe boots. Shirzad will use a shared carpool for which he has to pay. A donation will get him everything he needs to start work, including a backpack and insulated lunch bag, and cover his transportation costs for one month.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Violence broke out in Ivory Coast, West Africa in 2011 due to political unrest. Ridoine escaped to the safety of a refugee camp in Tonga, but it took almost nine years for him to be selected for resettlement in the United States. He arrived to Richmond this year and the IRC secured him employment with a construction company, who laid off some staff at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. IRC has found him another job that requires a specific uniform including steel-toe boots. A donation today will buy him all the supplies he needs to start the new job, plus cover one month of shared transportation costs.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Evrard spent almost nine years in a refugee camp in Tonga after fleeing violence at home in Ivory Coast, West Africa. He was able to attend some university classes and learned some English as well maintaining his native French. Evrard arrived to Richmond in January and the IRC helped him find a job with a construction company. Unfortunately, at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, his employer laid him off. IRC has found him another job that requires steel-toe boots. In addition, Evrard will now have transportation expenses and a longer commute. Your donation will fulfill all of Evrard's needs to start his new job, including a backpack and insulated lunch bag and one month of fees for his shared ride to work.

Partner: Peter Paul Development Center

Advisor: Sherika Chew

Help with electricity bill. Charles is a husband and father of two growing boys. He loves his job as a materials handler and is working toward the goal of advancing his career in logistics. He has been under a great deal of financial stress recently and with the quarantine requiring his wife and boys to be home more often his electricity bill has been much harder to manage. He could really use some support at this time. With all the unrest in our country right now this support will help to relieve some of his stress so that he can focus more on what is most important. His family.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Groceries. Wanda is an enrolled participant in the Office of Community Wealth Building's Workforce Program. Currently, she is trying to continue her studies and study for her certification in medical coding. Wanda is experiencing some unexpected expenses. She was expecting to secure employment by now, but has found the job search process challenging because of this period of social distancing. Wanda is asking for assistance with groceries for herself and her family.

Partner: Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building

Advisor: Chaya Braxton

Help with Groceries. Toya is worried about her family's well-being. She was relieved from her job due to a serious medical condition . Now, Toya's her husband also is laid off. At this time she is asking TGW for support with groceries. Toya is in a rough place at this time and really could use support for her family.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Baby Adeela was born a little early, taking her family by surprise. She and mom are healthy, however, Adeela's parents had just arrived in the United States thanks to the Special Immigrant Visa program. These unique visas are awarded to men and women who worked with the US government or military in their home country, who were then in danger due to their work. Mom Fazela and dad Zameer plan to continue their careers here in the US, but they arrived with very little and need help with diapers, crib sheets, a car seat, and some baby care items to welcome Adeela home and start their new lives together as a family.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Fazela worked as an Executive Manager for a foundation in Afghanistan. Her husband Zameer was a Project Manager at an international humanitarian agency and assisted the United States government during the Afghan War. As a result, the family was granted Special Immigrant Visas and welcomed to safety in Richmond in March. They brought with them one daughter, aged three and Fazela was pregnant. On his way to a job interview, Zameer received a phone call that Fazela had gone into labor early. Mom and baby are healthy, but since they arrived with very little, and they have not yet found jobs, they need help. A donation of $240 will buy a crib and mattress for the beautiful baby girl for when she joins her parents and big sister at home.

Partner: IRC

Advisor: Sharon Singer

Wadiah and Naadir arrived in the United States in March. Naadir and his family were granted Special Immigrant Visas thanks to Naadir's work with the US military in his home country of Afghanistan. Naadir has a master's degree in criminal law and worked in international development focusing in human rights. The IRC employment specialist is helping Naadir look for a job, but the outbreak of COVID has slowed the job search. Wadiah takes pride in being a stay-at-home mother to their four children, all under age 7. She will soon give birth to a little boy. With his education and work history, Naadir expects to get a good job that will support his family, but they need help with the costs of baby supplies to welcome their new son. On the wish list are a crib, crib sheets, a car seat, and care supplies. Your donation can help them get everything they need to bring their newborn home.

Partner: St. Joseph's Villa

Advisor: Drew Melson

Needs help with Groceries. Tiffany is a single mom who worked her way up from shift worker to supervisor at a fast food restaurant. She was such a strong employee that she was assigned to cover a second location. However, she was laid off when the restaurant changed to takeout only due to COVID-19. She is now registered with a healthcare staffing agency to switch back to her former profession as a Medical Aide Technician. Until she finds a new job, Tiffany and her daughter need support with groceries.

Partner: St. Joseph's Villa

Advisor: Drew Melson

Needs help with Groceries. Traci is a single mom of a 7-year-old daughter. She recently lost her full-time job due to the impacts of COVID-19. Her company has told her that she will be rehired once business picks up again, and in the meantime she has applied for several positions to make ends meet. She and her daughter are in need of grocery assistance as she continues her job search.