Impact Stories

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

When Hurricane Aurora tore through the Gulf Coast, the Ramirez family lost everything in a single night. Their home was flooded, their car swept away, and like thousands of others, they were left displaced with no belongings—and, crucially, no way to call for help.

That’s when Connect Refuge stepped in.

Volunteers provided the family with a charged phone, mobile data, and emergency airtime—giving them back something the storm had taken: connection.

Within minutes, Maria was able to call her sister and let her know they were alive. They used the phone to apply for FEMA assistance, locate a medical clinic for her husband, and find a temporary shelter with available beds.

For the first time since the hurricane hit, Maria said she felt “seen, safe, and hopeful.”

A Lifeline After the Storm

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 was able to:

  • 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

"When I left Honduras, I carried nothing but a small backpack and hope that I might survive. The journey through Mexico was dangerous, and by the time I reached the U.S. border, my phone had died, and I had no way to contact my family. I didn’t know where to go, how to find legal help, or even whether my mother knew I was alive."

“When I received a Connect Refuge phone and data plan, everything changed. I was able to contact immigration attorneys, check my case updates, and stay in touch with my family back home. I found temporary shelter and connected with a support group that helped me navigate the asylum process.”

Within weeks, Juan found stable housing with a sponsor family and began the process of rebuilding his life in safety.

“That phone wasn’t just a device—it was my lifeline. It helped me feel human again. I finally had hope.”

Juan, asylum seeker from Honduras

"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 Connect Refuge, 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