With the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the program’s initial focus involved providing a welcoming and inclusive space for Russian-speaking families. The challenge with serving Russian and Ukrainian communities simultaneously was the language barrier, which prevented participants from taking full advantage of existing library services. To combat this issue and meet the need, we initiated a search for Russian-speaking patrons and community members available and interested in assisting with programming. Our Russian-speaking volunteers have helped our library staff create inclusive programming, from featuring a Ukrainian Folktale for children’s theater play, to choosing crafts and games for families, donating books by Russian and Ukrainian authors, and locating support resources for adults. As a result, the Story Hour program has become a crucial initial point of contact for often newly-arrived families in the country.

The Home Gardens Library's Russian Story Hour serves as a vital program for new immigrants integrating into the local Russian-speaking community and neighborhood.

The program's impact extends beyond language, serving as an introductory basis for new experiences and activities for attendees. Meaningful and engaging free learning experiences for Russian/Ukrainian-speaking youth and adults are scarce in our community. The opportunity to partner with talented volunteers has created a welcoming environment and driven real impact to our immigrant population and everyone involved. During Story Hour, our volunteers have taught embroidery and leatherwork classes, provided instruction on traditional Russian games, and offered language classes. Almost all families attending Story Hour also attend other library programs such as ESL, Art Lab, and LEGO Club, helping them further integrate into their new community and grow their support network.

The well-received program is growing, and positive feedback from attendees is collected via interviews and surveys. One patron wrote, "We came to the Library within the first week we came to the US. We did not know anybody and did not understand how things work. The Library instantly provided us with a place to go to meet other Russian-speaking families, offered ESL classes, and activities for kids. You are doing an amazing job." The program continues to experience a steady increase in attendees, reaching as many as 60 participants during each Story Hour. Russian Story Hour has also gained recognition from the California Library Association’s CLAtalk Monday Mentions “Home Gardens Library in Riverside County hosts innovative programs to serve immigrant families!” Running successfully for over two years, the program has evolved from solely focusing on heritage language preservation to accommodating the needs of immigrant families.