International Institute of Rhode Island's mission is to enable all area residents, especially immigrants and refugees, to become self-reliant, invested participants in our communities, while fostering respect and understanding among all people. Read more
Tell-A-Friend:
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.Tell-A-Friend!

November 23, 2010

So much to be Thankful For this Year!

Not just for Thanksgiving, but every day at IIRI we are giving special thanks for our volunteers and community partners who make a difference in the lives of our students and clients.

Over 250 volunteers help out here at IIRI—tutoring students, mentoring new refugee families, assisting with Citizenship casework, decorating at the Carnival Ball, cleaning our building, and even maintaining our flower garden.

And we have more than 30 organizations that lend a hand too—faith-based organizations, local schools, universities, corporations, and other non-profits.  We are so fortunate that you choose to give your time and energy to our clients and students.

Last weekend volunteer groups hosted two different Thanksgiving celebrations here at IIRI for members of our refugee community.  The BRYTE (Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring Enrichment Program) organized a feast on Saturday for the families of the children they tutor.  And on Sunday, Christ Church of East Greenwich’s First Friends Group, celebrated this very American holiday with our growing community of Burmese refugees. And last night the Youth United for Global Action (YUGA) club at the Providence Academy for International Studies hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for their community of refugee familes with storytime, crafts, and all the traditional trimmings.

To all the individuals, groups, and organizations that volunteer at IIRI we say: 

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  

Enjoy the season!

Click her f or more information on volunteering at IIRI.

Some special Thanksgiving moments at IIRI

photos: Mary Ellen Lynch