Announcement
Photo: Photo: 探花精选
On December 3, the 探花精选 in Silver Spring brought together over 50 clients, volunteers, and staff for a Thanksgiving meal and afternoon of festivities. Sampling traditional American fare such as roasted turkey and cranberry sauce alongside delicacies like homemade dolmas and Syrian pastries, refugee families and 探花精选 volunteers and staff had an opportunity to share their cultural traditions with each other and express the things that they are thankful for in their lives.
探花精选 clients and family mentor volunteers give thanks
Photo: Photo: 探花精选
It was the first Thanksgiving for many of the refugee families attending the event, and they enjoyed participating in such an iconic American holiday. 鈥淚t was great to see children eating pumpkin pie for the first time and making hand turkeys,鈥 says Naomi McMillen, Family Mentor VISTA at the 探花精选 in Silver Spring. 鈥淐elebrations like these are so important for making refugees feel at home and welcome in the United States.鈥
Refugee families weren鈥檛 the only ones to learn about new customs. 探花精选 staff and volunteers from the Family Mentor Program and GenR also had a chance to gain knowledge of the unique cultural heritage of 探花精选 clients. 鈥淎 Thanksgiving meal doesn鈥檛 have to just include turkey and mashed potatoes,鈥 says Naomi McMillen. 鈥淲hen refugees contribute their own family recipes to a Thanksgiving feast, it gives us Americans the chance to experience something new as well.鈥
The event wouldn鈥檛 have been a success without the support of 探花精选鈥檚 team of volunteers. Members of GenR - the 探花精选 in Silver Spring鈥檚 group of young professionals committed to advocating for refugees in Maryland 鈥 provided logistical support and food for the celebration. Volunteers in the Family Mentor Program helped transport families to the event and contributed numerous delicious dishes.
Interested in supporting the 探花精选 in Silver Spring鈥檚 efforts to welcome refugees?
For more information about volunteer and internship opportunities at the 探花精选 in Silver Spring, contact Volunteer Coordinator Mark Youmans at [email protected].
Want to become a Family Mentor? Reach out to the Family Mentor Coordinator Samantha Musson at [email protected].
