Michael Southam - Community Spotlight

Michael Southam retired in Chicago during the pandemic. His life was relatively quiet until his parents began requiring more care in 2022. Since he was retired, it made sense that he would come home to North Dakota to care for them. Around this same time, the Russian assault on Ukraine began, and millions of Ukrainian families were being displaced. He learned about one such family, who had taken up residence nearby.

Hearing the story of what they had gone through in Ukraine was deeply distressing for him and he wanted to do something to help; with his parents passing, he approached his loved ones about donating their house to this Ukrainian family so that they may have a stable home. Gladly, they supported this decision, and this act of kindness would be the foundation for developing the FM Volunteers for Ukraine.

In 2023, he moved back home and began planning and networking - hoping to find people that would be willing to share in his passion. While many individuals expressed interest, the caveat to their support was that they’d wait until Ukrainian guests began arriving in ND, so, he turned his efforts to their arrival.

His first call was to Alight, a global charity based in Minnesota that assists refugees and displaced individuals gain access to necessary support, which led him to Welcome.US, which hosts a necessary platform for the government program, United 4 Ukraine (U4U), called Welcome Connect that pairs American Sponsors with Ukrainian individuals seeking refuge. Through this, he became an American sponsor.

The path to sponsorship was extensive and demanding, requiring that he be vetted by the US Government through background and financial checks and that he attests that he is capable and willing to ensure safe, comfortable housing for up to 90 days and financial support (should they need it) for up to 2 years. While this is more morally binding than it is legally, he takes his expectation seriously.

His first sponsored guest, Vasyl, arrived in 2023. Since then, he has personally sponsored six other guests, taking them to interviews, to look at apartments, sign leases, and open bank accounts. He also helps connect them with our community and each other through volunteer work and events, such as their summer picnic and Christmas party. Five of those that he has sponsored, still reside in the U.S.

Throughout his journey, he partnered with Marina Behm at the New American Consortium and Gary Sur and together they developed the FM Volunteers for Ukraine, which started as an unofficial resettlement program. After the U4U program ended on January 20th, 2025, their mission shifted from settlement to integration.

Their organization has served over 200 Ukrainian households, providing them with financial assistance (such as rent and insurance assistance, grocery and gas gift cards, etc.) and connection to resources through organizations, such as Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley, Global Refuge (formerly known as Lutheran Social Services), the State Health Office for Refugee Services, and immigration attorneys.

Despite the challenges that our Ukrainian Guests face here, such as delayed processing of their work authorization reapprovals, they remain a benefit to our community. They have started their own companies and endeavors to assist in supporting themselves financially, as they struggle to accept the help that is offered. Many of them complete volunteer work at local pantries, like Seeds of Hope and Olivet Food Pantry. Our Ukrainian neighbors have a deep gratitude for the people of America and it is important to them that they contribute to the communities that have accepted them in a meaningful way.

The FM Volunteers for Ukraine is funded through private donations, fundraisers and, in some instances, the New American Consortium. While they are a nonprofit, they do not have a 501c3 tax designation, so they do not have access to many of the grants set aside for such assistance. Their efforts are truly community driven, so if you’d like to help here are some ways you can:

1. Make a direct donation via their CashApp.

2. Make a donation designated for them to the New American Consortium.

3. Contact your state representatives and implore them to do all they can to get our Ukrainian Guests’ paperwork processed.

4. Donate gift cards from grocery stores and gas stations.

If you have other ideas on how you'd like to help or any questions, please email them at fm.volunteers.ukraine2023@gmail.com. Every little bit counts and they are so deeply grateful.