RISNW delivers 150 meals to refugees and immigrants ahead of Easter
EVERETT—Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest (RISNW) teamed up with Lynnwood Food Bank Friday, March 27, to distribute 150 free meals to refugee and immigrant families, ahead of Easter, at the end of Ramadan, and amid ICE crackdowns where many immigrants are fearful to leave their homes. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., outside the Rainier Hall at […]
2025 Lifestyles Recap: Community Resilience, Cultural Celebration, and Compassion
In 2025, local organizations and individuals throughout Snohomish County demonstrated remarkable community spirit through food security, education, and remembrance efforts. Below are some of the highlights of our coverage for 2025. Vaughn’s Teaching Farm and Kitchen holds 5th annual Christmas on the Farm Vaughn’s Teaching Farm and Kitchen in Lynnwood hosted its 5th annual Christmas […]
RISNW and Lynnwood Food Bank distribute 150 free Thanksgiving meals
EVERETT—Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest (RISNW) teamed up with Lynnwood Food Bank and the Everett Police Department Thursday, November 20, to distribute 150 free Thanksgiving meals to refugee and immigrant families. The distribution took place in the parking lot of Everett Community College/Washington State University Everett by ticket only. Meal tickets were sent out to […]
RISNW, Lynnwood Food Bank, Verdant, and LPD team up for wellness pop-up event
LYNNWOOD—Scores of passenger vehicles wrapped around the Verdant Health Commission building in Lynnwood on Monday afternoon with those from immigrant communities concerned about food insecurity in the wake of federal immigration enforcement actions throughout Puget Sound. “A lot of immigrant refugee families have self-terminated their benefits,” Van Dinh-Kuno, Executive Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services […]
Everett refugee advocacy nonprofit will “stay in the fight” in 2025
“A few people told me not to talk to the news,” Van Dinh-Kuno chuckled. “They said to watch out, because Trump’s people might see it and go after us! But I don’t care…it’s important to speak.” Dinh-Kuno is the Executive Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest (RISNW), a nonprofit “multi-service organization” that provides a […]
Helping over 400 Ukrainian families find peace in Snohomish County
ARLINGTON, Wash., August 21, 2022—Farhad, his wife Natalia, and two children, lived relatively simple lives in their home city of Odessa, Ukraine. Farhad worked as a cabinetmaker and Natalia worked teaching English at a nearby elementary school. They were your typical Odessan family but, on February 24, 2022, everything changed. Farhad was on his way […]
Lynnwood Times Person of the Year: Executive Director Van Dinh-Kuno
LYNNWOOD Wash., January 6, 2022 – The Lynnwood Times proudly presents the 2021 Person of the Year Award to Van Dinh-Kuno, the Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest (RISNW). For over three decades, Dinh-Kuno has helped thousands of immigrants and refugees across Snohomish, Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, and Island Counties. Dinh-Kuno’s efforts have […]
