Announcement
This season is about more than sharing a meal. It’s about creating a space where every person - no matter where their journey began - feels at home.
Thanksgiving is a reminder of what truly sustains us: connection, compassion, and community. At the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Tallahassee, this season is about more than sharing a meal. It’s about creating a space where every person - no matter where their journey began - feels at home.
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, the IRC Tallahassee gathered clients, volunteers, and community partners for its annual Thanksgiving Feast at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The room overflowed with warmth and laughter as families broke bread together, children crafted and played freely, and stories from across the world intertwined over shared plates and smiles.
The feast was a tapestry of cultures and gratitude. Traditional Thanksgiving dishes sat beside international favorites, each meal a reflection of resilience and the beauty of diversity. For many newly arrived families, this gathering marked their very first American Thanksgiving, transforming what could have been a lonely day into one filled with belonging.
The joy of the children freely making crafts, laughing, and playing with each other made the afternoon a lively, family-friendly gathering. Their laughter filled the room and reminded us all of the power of community and shared gratitude.
This year’s celebration was made possible by an extraordinary community. We extend our deepest gratitude to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for once again opening their beautiful space at 312 Stadium Drive, and to Candice McKibben and the Tallahassee Fellowship for adorning the tables with stunning floral and fruit centerpieces, lovingly arranged with produce donated in part by one of our volunteer families. Their generosity made every detail feel more personal, like a true family table.
We are equally grateful for their thoughtful connection to Second Harvest, whose donation of 100 food boxes supported families experiencing delayed benefits, extending the spirit of Thanksgiving beyond the event itself.
We also celebrate the heart of our volunteers, the tireless individuals who set up tables, served meals, and drove clients to and from the event. Their kindness bridged distances, both physical and emotional, reminding us that community isn’t defined by proximity but by shared purpose.
This feast was more than a meal; it was a manifestation of hope. It reminded everyone in the room that when a community chooses to open its doors and hearts, it builds more than connection; it builds belonging.
As we reflect on this season of gratitude, we invite you to continue standing with us. Your support helps the IRC in Tallahassee provide safety, opportunity, and a sense of home for refugees, immigrants, and survivors rebuilding their lives. Together, we can keep this table open to all who seek belonging.
From all of us at the IRC in Tallahassee, thank you for being part of our family. May your season be filled with gratitude, generosity, and the joy of community.
Staff and volunteers distributed boxes of food to families experiencing delayed benefits.