Ashland Embraces the Ukrainian Refugees in the Rogue Valley with a Spirited Celebration
Jack Murphy, Local Journalist, 03 Jun 2026
ASHLAND HOLDS RED BARN BENEFIT FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.
By Jack Murphy, Sunday, May 31st, down on the south end of Siskiyou Blvd at 2770, inside the big red barn, like-minded and passionate people from our community gathered for the Sunflowers and Solidarity Barn benefit to help support the 21 Ukrainian refugee families here locally (55 people among the 21 families). The benefit was organized by Uniting For Ukraine Rogue Valley was a big hit, bigger than anticipated. Zuna Johnson, a new board member of Uniting For Ukraine, told me she was worried prior to the event about the turnout. “We didn’t sell a lot of tickets pre-event, but Ashland people like to say, 'Well, I’ll see how I feel on the day, and then the day comes and they show up.” When I arrived just after 2 (the event was scheduled from 2 to 6), there were already a dozen or more cars in the parking lot, and as the event continued, more people kept showing up. In the barn Ukrainian flags adorned the walls, pictures of families were pinned up around the space, and several tables were set up with crafts and goods available to buy from our local Ukrainian families. Out on the back patio a few more tables were set up to showcase some impressive metal work and sculptures by Volodymr Leontiev and the work of local handyman and Ukrainian craftsman, Zhenya Sokol, who owns Sokol Handyman and Fencing.
The 33 String Band provided music for the event, playing upbeat, blue-grass classics, getting people out onto the dance floor.
Part of the fundraising came from a cake and pie auction, which was hosted by Jim Falkenstein, who brought his signature energy and charisma to the auctioneer position. “Come on! Show how much you love your fellow man, buy a pie, do I hear $100?” Jim hollered. This was a big success, at least three cakes (or pies) in a row sold for over $100 and a Strawberry Rhubarb pie went for the highest price of the night, $275.
Helping showcase the baked goods for auction was Katya Sokol, who was there representing her family and her father’s business.Katya works in the Ashland restaurant industry and has been in Ashland for three-and-a-half years now. I asked her what she wants people to know about those who have made it here from Ukraine. She told me, “That we are here, really here. It’s hard to even get a visa, you know, that’s a lot of money and we have worked hard for it. This event will gather more people to raise money for the families.”
Denise Krause was also in attendance; we talked about a few times throughout the event and I got the chance to ask her why she felt it is important to show up for a cause like this, “To show support, this is part of our community. I’m a member of the United Church of Christ, we have a Ukrainian family there, and I think it’s really important what Scott and everybody else has been doing to support these people during this incredibly hard, and getting harder time,” She said.As I made my way around the barn I saw tight-knit families who have come together to share parts of their culture with the community that has taken them in wholeheartedly. I spoke with Scott Bandoroff, who founded Uniting for Ukraine Rogue Valley back in the spring of 2022. Like many people who possess a heart, Scott was disturbed and outraged by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and wanted to do more to help those affected. “These are really good people that were forced out of their country in order to save their families. They’re just trying to make a new life for themselves here, at least as long as the war goes on.” Scott said. I also asked about Scott how our community, and specifically Ashland, has opened up its arms to help those coming over from Ukraine. He explained, “It’s been a community effort from the very beginning; from hosts that take families in, to people that teach them english and teach them to drive, to people helping them get registered with the government so they can get health care and food support, which has been taken away at this time.”
Toward the end of the event, we (my fiance and I) sat outside in the evening sun, soaking up the positive, refreshing, community energy that had been brought to this event. She leaned over to me and said, “I love seeing Ashland being how I thought it was growing up; willing to help people, caring about people.”This is ultimately what the fundraiser was about. Helping people and caring for people. Uniting for Ukraine Rogue Valley continues to support local refugees, using donations to help with essential support systems: food assistance, temporary housing and immigration fees.
If you or someone you know would like to donate and be part of the good in the world, you can go to donate at Uniting for Ukraine Rogue Valley, 244 Hargadine St. Ashland, OR, 97520