Announcement
Photo: Brittany Dewberry/GenR
On Saturday November 16th, 2019, the IRC in Silver Spring hosted a Thanksgiving meal for recently-arrived refugees. The event brought together 30 refugees from Afghanistan, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo and 20 IRC staff and volunteers including family mentors, interns, and members of GenR, a volunteer organization that supports the IRC. Many family mentors accompanied their mentees, refugees resettled by the IRC who family mentors meet with weekly for six months to foster English learning, socialization and community integration.
GenR volunteers generously provided the meal which featured traditional Thanksgiving fare including chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, mac and cheese, stuffing, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. The event provided an opportunity to learn and reflect on the purpose of Thanksgiving: sharing a meal with strangers turned neighbors and expressing gratitude. Everyone who came enjoyed the food and took some home as well!
Refugees wrote what they are thankful for on paper leaves which they glued to a Thanksgiving “tree” now displayed in the IRC Silver Spring office.
Photo: Brittany Dewberry/GenR
The IRC would like to thank GenR for providing the food, marketing and personpower for the IRC in Silver Spring's third (and most successful) annual Thanksgiving! The IRC would also like to thank Wegman’s for donating $100 worth of food for the event.
Photo: Brittany Dewberry/GenR
If you are interested in getting involved with the IRC, please contact Kyle Monsees at [email protected].
