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04/17/2024 08:30 AMA colossal effort of a single shoreline resident has manifested itself through the non-profit organization, The Colossus Project, which was designed to help support Ukrainian refugees living in the area. Lois Caldrello started the non-profit in 2023 as the result of her experience hosting a family of four, which lived with her own family for six months.
When the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine started in early 2022, many Americans were motivated to help in any way they could. For Lois and her family, that help took the form of hosting, in her home, a Ukrainian family fleeing the war.
Lois first decided to host a refugee family after watching a special on Syrian refugees being resettled in Canada. The generosity inspired her and, after doing some research, Lois found there were actually several resettled Ukrainian families in the area.
“We saw we could help,” Lois says.
Asked about the decision to host a family, Lois acknowledges it was a leap of faith. The organization she used to find a refugee family gave some tips on how to tell if the match would work, and the families first connected via Zoom.
“At the end of the day, though, my husband and I bought tickets for four strangers and drove down to New York in the middle of the night to pick them up and bring them to our home,” Lois says with a chuckle.
In the beginning, Lois and her family had to use translation apps to speak with the Ukrainian family since they didn’t speak the same language.
“Sometimes, the results were good. Sometimes, it was a bad translation, and it was hilarious,” Lois says.
Hosting the family of four—a husband, wife, and their two children—was not the only way in which Lois stepped up to help. Through the experience, she realized just how much help the refugees need.
“I identified the need for more help to be given, and so we started a non-profit called Colossus Project,” says Lois.
According to its website, The Colossus Project, “...aims to provide essential support to those individuals who have found refuge in the United States, helping them to rebuild their lives and create a brighter future.”
The Colossus Project is able to assist in transforming the lives of Ukrainian recipients who have been granted humanitarian parole by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under Form 134-A.
As further described on the non-profit website, “The project also strives to raise awareness about sponsorship opportunities and the beneficiaries of USCIS Form 134-A, fostering a sense of unity and compassion within communities across the nation.”
Lois explains that the Ukrainian refugees need help with tasks like enrolling the family in English classes, helping the parents find jobs and transportation, filling out financial papers, enrolling the children in school, and eventually helping the family find housing and gain independence.
Lois notes that the work does not end when a family moves on. Even as the Ukrainian family she hosted prepared to move out of her home, with the kids settled in school and both parents working, Lois remained available to work with them.
“We’re not just going to say goodbye and good luck,” she said.
Additionally, Lois shares that a true friendship has formed between her family and the Ukrainian family.
Lois is working to expand The Colossus Project’s reach to find new volunteers from the shoreline and beyond. The organization is also accepting donations. Those who wish to donate or get involved can do so by visiting www.thecolossusproject.org.
“It’s a great experience. Even if you don’t host a family, but want to help, we can point you in the right direction,” says Lois.