The Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) was honored to be invited to the Gates Foundation for its Gender Identity Day of Service on Monday, February 2nd. The day brought together Gates Foundation staff and inspiring local nonprofits—including Mary’s Place, Jubilee Women’s Center, and Westside Baby—for a meaningful Lunch & Learn highlighting the vital work being done across King County. It was a powerful opportunity to connect, learn from one another, and celebrate our shared commitment to supporting women, families, and communities.
Following the Lunch & Learn, members of the Gates Foundation’s Gender Identity group participated in hands-on service projects at each partner organization. At Mary’s Place, volunteers sorted warehouse donations and packed essential items for families. At Jubilee Women’s Center, they cleaned living spaces and served lunch to women accessing day services. At Westside Baby, volunteers organized and packed supplies for mothers and infants.
At ReWA, the Gates Foundation team visited our MLK office to support survivors in our Gender-Based Violence Survivor Support program. Together, they packed 10 carefully assembled boxes filled with hygiene supplies, blankets, and household essentials—items that represent safety, dignity, and the first steps toward stability for survivors rebuilding their lives. Our Gender-Based Violence Survivor Support team shared more about the program and the individuals these care packages will support, grounding the work in the real stories of resilience and hope behind each box. Volunteers also supported ReWA through donor outreach by hand-writing heartfelt notes to members of our community.
We are deeply grateful to the Gates Foundation staff for their time, care, and generosity. It was truly meaningful to welcome another organization into our space and mission, and we look forward to continued partnership and collaboration in the future.
