Holiday Spirit Reaches Refugees

Marsang unwrapped a shiny set of dishes, Blay received a brand new jacket, and eight year old Nasra, from Somalia, was given an art set. Thus, for the first time, three refugee children experienced the magic of the holiday season in the United States.
 
In December, International Rescue Committee in Atlanta partnered with two local organizations – the Universalist Unitarian Congregation of Atlanta and Sai Baba – to bring the season of giving and some extra  cheer home to newly arrived refugees. The generosity these two organizations and other individuals in the community enabled the IRC to distribute gifts to 265 newly arrived refugees.  
 
Amber Mull, IRC Atlanta’s volunteer coordinator, said, “For someone coming to the U.S. for the first time, it can seem a very strange and cold place in the middle of winter. Every gift we distributed let clients know that someone cared that they were here and needed a jacket, a laundry basket, a scarf, or gloves. This generosity goes a long way to making refugees feel at home in their new communities and showing that this is a peaceful place of opportunity.”
 
Thank you to everyone whose contributions showed that the holiday spirit translates in all languages!