Over 50 New Americans sharing a meal and sharing hope on Tuesday, November 15.  

Sharing the spirit of the thanksgiving season, staff and volunteers from the International Institute of Buffalo (IIB) and Parkside Lutheran Church in Buffalo are working together to provide a memorable Thanksgiving feast before the actual holiday. This Thanksgiving, arguably one of the most American of holidays, will be the first traditional Thanksgiving meal for the guests. 

“Our refugee clients have come to Buffalo after escaping from something— religious, political, ethnic, racial, or gender-based persecution in their native countries. Our immigrant survivor clients lived through domestic violence or human trafficking and escaped terrible conditions to start over with a new life,” says Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, executive director of the International Institute of Buffalo. “We hope this can be a chance for them to reflect on their journey, break bread with a community of new friends coming from similar situations, and look to the opportunity that is before them in America.”   

The meal, organized and prepared by church and IIB volunteers, will feature all the favorites that make up a traditional American Thanksgiving fare, including turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, corn, and rolls with butter. Rounding out the meal will be a dessert of apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies. Being mindful of the religious/ dietary needs of some of the guests, the stuffing will be meatless, and some of the turkey dinners will be halal. Halal is the Arabic word that means that meat, poultry, and other foods have been prepared in a way that adheres to Islamic law and is permissible for Muslims to eat. 

 “Buffalo is known as the City of Good Neighbors, and as people of faith, we are called to love our neighbor,” said Rev. Jeremiah P. Smith, Pastor of Parkside Lutheran Church. “So, when the International Institute of Buffalo approached us about helping to host a Thanksgiving dinner for refugees experiencing their first year in America, we jumped at the opportunity. We are thrilled to share all that we are thankful for across languages and cultures.”   

Tops Friendly Markets donated four turkeys for the event. Parkside Lutheran Church congregation members cooked the turkeys and donated and cooked the rest of the food. Final preparation and set-up for the dinner will happen on Tuesday afternoon at the Parkside Lutheran Church, 2 Wallace Ave, Buffalo, NY 14214. 

The dinner will take place from 5-6:30 pm. Representatives from the International Institute of Buffalo and Parkside Lutheran Church will be on hand for interviews before and during the event.