About Us
Touch 1 Life was established in the Spring of 2022, shortly after the war broke out in Ukraine. Our initial effort was working with local organizations to send humanitarian aid to the people fleeing their homes, often with nothing more than a single suitcase. As refugees began arriving in the US however, we shifted our focus more toward helping these families access the essentials they need to restart their lives here in Oregon and SW Washington. Our organization has helped many families, connecting them with generous donors willing to provide things like: beds to sleep on, couches and dining tables on which to gather and much more.
In particular though, Touch 1 Life is focused on helping refugee children.
Elana, Touch 1 Life’s founder, was once a Ukrainian refugee herself–her family arriving in Portland in the late 80’s, themselves fleeing from Soviet oppression. Like the refugee kids today, she knows first-hand that in times like this, families often cannot prioritize the small creature comforts that help their children feel at home–things like bikes, toys and clothing.
To give refugee kids and their families a little bit of joy and hope in their new lives.
Meet the Board
Dr. Erica Rosenfeld
Dr. Rosenfeld is a retired clinical psychologist with a long history of working with families and especially with children. In her pastime she is an activist working on causes including: racial justice, women’s rights and social equality.
Erica has been a member of and served in an administrative capacity on several non-profit organizations. Most recently, she was the president of a local chapter of the American Association of University Women.
Dr. Nicole Titze
Dr. Titze is a pediatrician specializing in emergency medicine. As a Turkish-German immigrant, she understands the challenges foreigners face when first arriving to this country and has taken an active role in educating herself in socio-economic, racial and ethnic differences in the United States.
She is currently working at a county hospital, where she takes care of a predominantly underserved population, including refugees. Nicole has a wealth of knowledge and experience in understanding the stresses that refugees (and children in particular) face. As a member of our board, she provides valuable insight into what resources can ease the burdens experienced by refugee families.