Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Warren Players President Allan Branthoover presents a check to Rev. Jeff Ewing for funds raised for the Warren Area Refugee Resettlement Network (WARRN) by the sale of sunflowers at the Players recent production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”

“One family at a time, let’s see what we can do.”

That’s in essence the mission of the newly-formed Warren Area Refugee Resettlement Network, a non-profit established to continue refugee work undertaken in the community, especially since Putin’s invasion of Russia over two years ago.

An informational meeting Monday night to both explain what’s been done to date but also the ways that people can support refugee resettlement efforts here.

Gladys Archer said the work that has been done has been largely groups of people doing their own thing.

“It has worked. It has functioned,” she said. “Warren could do more.”

The formation of the non-profit brings a “focus” for all the support and resources that have been brought to bear but also do address the largest challenge — housing.

Archer called the effort “as much of a community grassroots effort as they come.

“It was never one specific individual,” she said, but rather a “hodgepodge of people crazy enough to try to figure it out.”

It started as one refugee family and then another. It has branched out to English classes for speakers of other languages, with participants from Ukraine but also the Dominican Republic, Columbia, Philippines, Brazil and Cuba.

Archer highlighted two core beliefs that underpin decisions that WARRN will make — the preservation of human dignity and the ability to ensure arriving individuals and families that “you owe us nothing.”

She said some of the people are Christains and some are not but that everyone involved values people.

A total of 18 individuals from Ukraine have come to Warren. Some are living here now. Some started here and then moved to other places in the country.

“We have individuals and families wanting to come,” she said. “One family at a time, let’s see what we can do.”

Archer said there is “something at every level” for people to get involved with as far as volunteering.

Attorneys are needed to help with the legal process of bringing refugees in. Teachers are needed in the English classes. A treasurer or accountant would be a help. So would a web designer.

Some of the asks are smaller – a willingness to transport people to appointments, helping with fundraising, financial contributions.

“All this takes money. We do what we can with what we have,” Archer said. “We need help. It’s a lot. It’s God’s work so it’s our privilege.”

Warren Players raise funds

Funding to date has come from a variety of places. Needs have been met. Organizations have chipped in.

One such group is the Warren Players.

Their recent production was “Fiddler on the Roof,” set in a fictional village in Ukraine.

As a result, they sold sunflowers to raise funds for the WARRN.

Rev. Jeff Ewing said the effort raised $816.

Allan Branthoover, president of the Warren Players, said many people came up and said they just wanted to donate and didn’t take a flower or ask for change.

Once the dust settled from the weekend of shows, Branthoover said they were overwhelmed with the amount that had been donated.