Impact Stories

Real people. Real change. See how simple connection—airtime, data, and phones—changes lives.

The Lopez family lost their home in a wildfire in California. With power lines down and no service on their old phones, they couldn’t receive evacuation updates or tell their relatives they were safe.

A local shelter, in partnership with Connect Refuge, provided them with emergency airtime and a refurbished smartphone. That lifeline allowed them to:

  • Receive real-time evacuation alerts.

  • Contact FEMA and apply for temporary housing assistance.

  • Reassure their worried relatives across the country with a video call.

“We were in the dark until that phone lit up. Suddenly we weren’t alone—we had a way forward.” — The Lopez Family

Family Displaced by Wildfires

"Crossing into the U.S. was terrifying. I had no way to contact my family or know where to go next. Connect Refuge helped me get a phone plan, allowing me to speak with legal aid and coordinate my journey to a sponsor family." – 

Impact: Hundreds of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border received essential connectivity to access legal support, job opportunities, and vital resources.

Juan, asylum seeker from Honduras

At 18, Marcus aged out of foster care with no stable housing, no job, and no reliable way to stay in touch with social workers or employers. For weeks, he bounced between couches and shelters—his future uncertain.

With a Connect Refuge device and data package, Marcus could:

  • Apply for entry-level jobs online and respond to employer calls.

  • Stay in contact with his mentor and case manager.

  • Begin online community college courses through free Wi-Fi access.

Within months, Marcus secured a part-time job and enrolled in vocational training.

“This phone gave me a chance to start over. It’s more than a device—it’s my connection to a future.” — Marcus

A Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

"I fled Ukraine with my daughter after our town was destroyed. When we arrived in the U.S., everything was new, and I didn’t know where to start. Thanks to ConnectRefuge, I received mobile data that allowed me to contact local support groups, enroll my daughter in school, and find legal assistance. It wasn’t just data—it was a bridge to safety and stability. It gave me the tools to start rebuilding our lives."

— Olena, Refugee from Ukraine