King County officials announced last week that the county will create a permanent Immigrant and Refugee Commission to assist foreign-born residents.

According to a news release on the county’s website, the commission will include a dedicated staff member that will serve as a liaison between elected leaders, community organizations and county employees. The move comes one year after the county created a task force for immigrants and refugees.

“At a time when hateful rhetoric targets men, women and children from around the world who seek safety, hope and a better life, King County proudly upholds the American principle that we are a nation of opportunity,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement.

Meanwhile, on Vashon, a group of islanders who call themselves the Vashon Resettlement Committee are working to secure a home for Syrian immigrant Reema, her two children and extended family that recently arrived.

“Last week, Reema’s cousin with spouse and four children came from Florida to join her. They had been in Jordan for several years awaiting clearance for immigration, then in Florida for a few weeks before deciding to come here,” islander Mary Rose wrote on the group’s GoFundMe page. “The family speaks no English. All the children have health issues and one was admitted to Children’s Hospital last week (acute juvenile diabetes). So already our opportunities to help are growing and complexity increasing.”

The group has raised $1,800 toward its $7,000 that would pay for one year of rent while Reema looks for a job and enrolls her children in school.

The committee recently became an official charity recognized by the state.

For more information about the organization and to donate, contact Mary Rose at 425-445-2600 or email her through nbis.org.

— Anneli Fogt