About Rita's Refuge
Rita’s Refuge is a Sapulpa-based Direct Aid Organization dedicated to collecting contributions to be distributed as Aid for Homeless individuals and individuals at-risk of homelessness in the Sapulpa and Tulsa areas. We provide non-religious, trauma-informed, person-centered Aid and support.
Our vision
Rita’s Refuge envisions a system that meets everyone’s needs. We value local community building through acts of solidarity. By first identifying and then working to meet the unmet needs of our most marginalized neighbors, Rita’s Refuge seeks to fill existing gaps in systems of care and support. We are committed to non-religious, trauma-informed, person-centered care and aid distribution. We are dedicated to listening to our neighbors, identifying the needs they prioritize, then working to meet those needs in a way that is preferred by said neighbors.
All Our Neighbors' Needs
Through the outbursts and screams
Telling us their unmet needs
Speaking of feeling unseen
A future that looks bleak
Just needing a place to lean
A place where they feel seen
A safe place to plant some seeds
And see what stability breeds
To a conclusion this all leads
Together we must challenge greed
We must be brave, we cannot flee
The effort to fill this gap we see
So Rita’s Refuge will seek
To use your contributions to feed
Our ability to rise and meet
All Our Neighbors’ Needs!
What we do
Replacement documents
We distribute Aid for replacement IDs, Driver’s Licenses, and Birth Certificates. Often times missing IDs and Birth Certificates are the first barrier to gaining housing, healthcare, or financial assistance.
Food, water, and supplies
We distribute food, water, and other supplies to our homeless neighbors.
Applying for Aid
You or your Case Manager can send a request for aid to [email protected].
Who we are
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RagsaRita Ragland
Founder & Executive Director
RagsaRita is a local organizer and activist. She has been involved with organizing the Tulsa Really Really Free Market, Trans Advocacy Coalition of Oklahoma, Gender Umbrella Assistance Collective, and Forum for Real Economic Emancipation. She is also the Founder of the Sapulpa Antiracist Support Group and the Tulsa Antiracist Support Group. They are dedicated to Antiracist, Anti-fascist, Anti-capitalist, and Decolonizing focused activism and work to build a better environment for all of our neighbors.
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Andrew Nutter
Board President
Andrew Nutter is a Tulsa Professional, Activist, Artist and enthusiastic Volunteer. His current projects include managing two local small businesses located in Tulsa and Broken Arrow and membership in Cooperation Tulsa. While he has been active around Tulsa for more than twenty years in the political and artistic community, Andrew is broadening his experience by bringing his years of team building knowledge and empowering management style to the non-profit field. Andrew is deeply committed to direct aid work and firmly believes in the mission of Rita’s Refuge. As President, Andrew hopes to foster a culture of respect, compassion, growth and imaginative problem solving, while supporting the director, volunteers, employees, and other board members to flourish in their duties as well as their communities.
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Amanda Pigman
Board Treasurer
Amanda is an educator, lifelong learner, mother, and anti-imperialist. She serves as co-chair on the budgeting and marketing committee for Rita’s Refuge, where she operates as an ethical oversight over finances as well as helps to source materials for the organization. Amanda believes in building solidarity through direct, mutual aid and that’s why she believes in the work that Rita’s Refuge does.
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Sarah Abear
Board Secretary
Sarah Abear is a creative who believes in the importance of community building, and in the power of mutual aid. They are on the board of directors as Secretary, and they also utilize their knowledge in graphic design to help create all of our printed materials and social media graphics. Sarah believes in a brighter future where all our neighbors feel safe and secure, and they believe Rita’s Refuge will help pave the way for that future.
Get involved
Contribute
All monetary contributions go directly toward providing Aid for our neighbors. A $35 contribution sponsors a replacement document or other supplies, and anything helps.
Send supplies
Our registry lists what we are short of right now, and orders ship to us directly.
Request Aid
You or your Case Manager can send a request for aid to [email protected].
Spread the word
Share what we post. Tell people in Sapulpa and Tulsa that we are here.
Donate
You can sponsor a replacement document or other supplies with a $35 contribution, but anything helps.
All monetary contributions go directly toward providing Aid for our neighbors. Please make a contribution today.