Enriching Your Holiday this Season

 
Imagine being thousands of miles away from your native home, a place you had to flee because of war, persecution or disaster. Imagine that for years, after leaving your native country, you lived in a refugee camp, waiting and hoping to perhaps return home one day. As the years go by, it becomes clear that you may never return home. Your children, born in a refugee camp, have never known life outside a refugee camp. Finally, you make the decision to resettle and build a new life a new country with the assistance of the United Nations and the US Government. You find yourself in Dallas, living in an industrialized city for, perhaps, the first time in your life.
 
In November and December, it’s hard to miss the energy and excitement all around you as you see people preparing for and celebrating the holidays. Your children see it and are hoping that perhaps they too will receive gifts under the holiday tree. Will there be a holiday tree? Can you afford to spend money on a holiday tree, let alone afford to buy gifts for everyone in the family? 
 
As the holiday season approaches, we all look forward to spending time with family and friends, sharing and exchanging gifts that communicate, in small measure the affection we have for our loved ones. More than this, the holiday season is also a time when we consider ways, in which we give back to our communities, sharing what we have with those who may be less fortunate. This year, the IRC in Dallas and the IRC in Abilene invite you to consider giving back by adopting a refugee family recently arrived to the United States.
 
For the past eight years, Tiffany Kellerman, Office Coordinator for the IRC in Dallas, has made donations to charity in lieu of making holiday gift purchases for her family, demonstrating that her commitment to charity is not just a professional one. “The value of giving to my community is something that was instilled in me as child. Giving is not just for the holidays; it’s long term and is not limited by someone’s age,” says Tiffany. “So, a few years ago, I decided I would refocus my holiday spending toward people who needed it more. When I came to work for the IRC almost three years ago, the Adopt-A-Family program was the perfect opportunity to give back to the refugees who come with so little when they first arrive.”
 
She plans to participate yet again in the Adopt-A-Family program this year and is excited about the program’s kick off in November.
 
Last year, Tiffany teamed up with two other staff members to adopt members of a large, Burmese family. Each of the three IRC staff members adopted two individuals within the family to ensure that every member of the refugee family would receive gifts. Tiffany was assigned two girls aged 9 and 13.
 
“I love the shopping part,” says Tiffany. “It’s fabulous. After I was given the girls’ wish lists, I went shopping for them. I bought an entire package of color coordinated items, books, educational toys, and a boom box. I also tried to buy lots of items the entire family could benefit from; things like toiletries, towels, and blankets that everyone can use.”
 
For Tiffany, the Adopt-A-Family program is now a year-round event. She starts planning for her family months ahead of the program’s official start by purchasing items she knows any refugee will need such as umbrellas and towels as she sees them go on sale through the year. She usually completes her shopping before December.
 
“I wound up spending about $125 per individual, plus 100 dollars on coats to keep in the office. When a refugee came to the office without a coat, we were able to give them one on the spot. The coats were surprisingly affordable, since I got up early to buy them on Black Friday. They were almost giving them away, and it helped to keep many refugees warm.”
 
Tiffany says that she loves the Adopt-A-Family program and that she would recommend it to anyone who wants to give back to people who not only really need it, but also to people who will never forget their donor’s generosity.
 
“If you want to give back, you can make a difference for refugees,” says Tiffany.

 
Please email AdoptAFamily@theIRC.org for more information, or to adopt a family for the holidays.
 
All purchases and contributions to a refugee family are tax deductable.