Refugees Take Part in an Important American Tradition

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for many families who come together to give thanks for everything they have and appreciate. For refugee families, Thanksgiving is a time to learn about why this holiday is such a special tradition in American cultureand how they can incorporate it in their lives and give thanks as well. The IRC Miami hosted a Thanksgiving celebration for its clients on Wednesday, November 23rd in the Miami office, attended by IRC staff, volunteers and clients. Sixty-five of the most needy families were invited to the event, including recently resettled refugees and Haitian families who survived the earthquake and have been allowed to stay in the United States temporarily. Prior to the celebration, the IRC conducted a food drive with three local radio stations of Spanish Broadcasting System  to collect donated food which would be handed out to clients at the office. The Thanksgiving celebration was a great success and the IRC would like to give a special thanks to its sponsors, Ideal Medical Centers and Alper JCC Museum, as well as the local artists, Carlos Manuel and Mr. Hansi. The IRC would also like to thank Miss Cuban American and her court, who handed out baskets overflowing with food to the refugee families, as well as the rest of the IRC staff members and volunteers. The event was a joy for those who attended and the refugee families were able to walk away with a new sense of pride for this very important American holiday.