After a recent executive order halted federal funding for refugee programs, Catholic Charities Jacksonville said on Monday it is seeking new ways to get funding to continue its mission of helping families in the area.

Catholic Charities Jacksonville on Wednesday laid off 26 employees from its refugee program following President Donald Trump’s executive order that halted the arrivals of new refugees to the country, the organization’s CEO told News4JAX.

Freedom, defined as “the power or right to speak, act, and change as one wants without hindrance or restraint,” remained elusive for many in Afghanistan during years of conflict. For three Afghan women now living in the United States, freedom signifies a fresh start.

With help from Living Stream Church and Alpha Dental Management, at least 40 refugees from Ukraine received free dental care on Thursday at ASAP Atlantic Dental.