For a third year, staff and volunteers from the International Institute of Buffalo (IIB) and Parkside Lutheran Church provided the first Thanksgiving meal for refugees. The congregation members cooked the turkeys while also assisting with food donations. The dinner was prepared Tuesday afternoon at Parkside Lutheran Church in Buffalo. More than 80 newly arrived refugee clients joined for the celebration.
“Just as our refugee clients are learning what it means to be ‘American,’ through our community orientation and job training, it is wonderful that our newest neighbors will also get to learn by celebrating the most American of holidays– Thanksgiving,” says Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, executive director of the International Institute of Buffalo.
The meal featured traditional American Thanksgiving foods, including turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, corn, and rolls with butter. Dessert will include apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies. Being mindful of the religious/ dietary needs of some of the guests, the stuffing will be meatless, and some of the turkey dinners will be prepared in a way that adheres to Islamic food law, so it will be permissible for Muslims to eat.
“Parkside Lutheran is once again thrilled to partner with IIB for a Thanksgiving meal that shows the strength of this city is its good neighbors,” says Rev. Jeremiah P. Smith, Pastor of Parkside Lutheran Church. “At a time when many are worried about the future of our country, we pause to strengthen relationships. At a time when many are concerned about the future of programs that welcome refugees, we take an evening to celebrate our newest neighbors. At a time when many are anxious about how they will afford groceries this holiday season, we gather to share blessings.”
Refugee guests hail from hail from Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela.
WGRZ Channel 2 was also on hand for the celebration. You can watch their coverage by clicking here.
If you want to sponsor a refugee or immigrant family for the holidays, click here for more information.