Hopeful New Beginnings
Furnish Hope has provided household essentials and furnishings to over 1,000 households since our inception, each with their own story of perseverance and courageous first steps towards new beginnings. We remain humbled by their individual journeys and grateful to help them create a sense of home and hope.
While most Furnish Hope recipients claim Central Oregon as their home, our reach occasionally extends far beyond our immediate community. Such was the case when referring agency, Kindred Connections, asked us to help Ukrainian refugees, Viktoriia and Ruslan Kaivanova and their three children, who had landed in Bend with very few resources.
The Kaivanova Family
Viktoriia and Ruslan fled Ukraine amidst the turmoil of the Russian invasion. Their journey was a brave and harrowing attempt to secure safety for their family. A Ukrainian friend living in Bend helped financially secure their safe passage with support from New Hope Church.
"You can't think clearly and you have no idea what is going to be next. But I know that angels drove with us that day, and that angels have continued to be with us on our journey to safety in Bend." - Viktoriia
In partnership with local churches, Kindred Connections is a local non-profit organization that rallies around families in crisis, providing mentoring relationships, housing and connections to needed resources.
New Hope Church provided temporary housing until they could secure their own apartment. And, that's when Furnish Hope stepped in to help!
Furnish Hope volunteer, and New Hope Church member, Randy Burchfield (photographed below with Viktoriia and FH Executive Director, Megan Martin), facilitated the referral, and Furnish Hope was able to provide essential furnishings to complete the family's new home, including a bed, dining table, rugs, kitchen supplies and more.
In their short time living in Bend, the Kaivonova Family have felt incredibly welcomed and they are touched by the kindness and generosity of strangers.
"The help has been a big blessing. it means we have enough places for everyone and everything. As a mother, I am thankful that my kids are in a safe place. We are happy here. We are not alone. I can feel it every day." - Viktoriia
Join Team Hope
Help deliver HOPE to hundreds of Central Oregon neighbors with financial support of our Essentials Fund!