This Mother’s Day, Bay Area non-profit steps up for Ukrainian refugee families

Bay Area non-profit Help A Mother Out (HAMO) is making a big impact for refugee moms and babies fleeing the heartbreaking crisis in Ukraine. In April, HAMO donated more than 100,000 diapers to USA for UNHCR that are on their way to families in Poland.

HAMO’s mission is to improve baby and family well-being by increasing access to diapers for families in need. The organization was founded in 2009 and has primarily focused on supporting families in the Bay Area. But when a longtime friend approached Lisa Truong, founder and executive director of HAMO, about an opportunity to support refugees, she decided now was the right time to act.

“This gift [of the diapers] is in the spirit of wanting to stand in solidarity with parents and moms and children,” says Truong.

Since February, the world has witnessed the heartbreaking crisis unfolding in Ukraine. The footage of refugee families fleeing, 90 percent of whom are women and children, has spurred an outpouring of support from people from around the world — including a non-profit more than 4,000 miles away.

And while HAMO’s mission may focus on the needs of those in the local Bay Area, the pull for Lisa Truong to support refugees is rooted in her own upbringing and family experience. While not refugees themselves, Lisa and her mom left Vietnam before the end of the war. 

“I saw how my mom struggled to establish herself [in America] and then subsequently sponsor our extended family to come to the U.S. when [Vietnamese] refugees were coming to America,” Truong recalls. “That experience has really informed the work I do.”

In addition to the initial generous donation, HAMO is dedicating its May Mother’s Day campaign to helping families fleeing Ukraine. An anonymous donor has pledged to match all donations to HAMO in May up to $25,000.

“We know that the donation is not going to solve everything, it's just going to help parents and babies at a time of acute need,” Truong shares. “But it’s so important for babies to be clean, dry and healthy.”

How you can help…

Support Help A Mother Out this Mother’s Day and ensure that refugee moms and babies fleeing Ukraine will receive the care they deserve. Give generously today and your donation will be matched, up to $25,000, delivering twice the care to courageous families who need your compassionate support.