Far too many people living in places with political unrest are faced with the unimaginable decision to flee their homes and country in search of a better life. Thanks to our generous supporters, JFS provides long-term solutions to help refugees transition, rebuild, and become self-sufficient in their new lives—newly arrived neighbors like Balusani. 

We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Ridwell to access gently used items such as pots and pans, dishes, winter jackets and more for our resettlement clients.

This month, we’re excited to spotlight our Yana Vishnitsky Refugee Resettlement program. We sat down with JFS Director of Refugee Resettlement Troy Cox to learn about this remarkable team and their work throughout JFS and our communities.

When David arrived at Denver International Airport from Uganda, his heart was overflowing with gratitude, having been met by JFS staff and reunited with his family, who had resettled here earlier, including his sister, her husband, and their children. Most of all, he was excited about his new life in Colorado. David credits JFS for building a strong foundation for his new life, and he’s excited to share his experiences to help others.

For Sandra and her family, life in El Salvador was filled with terror. “Life was very complicated,” shared Sandra’s son-in-law, Moises. “Money was sparse. Getting ahead was really challenging, and when you did, they would take it away from you. Our days were very stressful and violent. We never knew if it would be safe when we left the house and if we would return home. It was dangerous to get basic needs—knowing if we went to the shops, we might die. To grow up like that was so hard, always living in fear.”