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GIVING THANKS
Fredericksburg Baptist Church hosts Thanksgiving dinner for refugees
By NATASHA ALTAMIRANO
Date published: 11/23/2006
Hengameh Zareey is thankful for simple things: conversational English classes, a job as a cook at McDonald's, the food on her plate.
The Iran native was among 80 or so refugees who shared a Thanksgiving meal at Fredericksburg Baptist Church last night.
Zareey was resettled in Fredericksburg five months ago with her husband, Shaharam, and her 9-year-old daughter, Sanam.
It's their first Thanksgiving.
Zareey said she understands little about the American holiday.
"I know only we eat turkey," she joked, her plate laden with turkey, green beans and stuffing.
Zareey and Sanam sat at a table with Fredericksburg Baptist Church volunteers David and Mary Small and Neil Walters.
"In the company of people like this I'm made more aware of their struggles," David Small said. "I'm thankful that I was born here."
In broken English, Zareey said she was grateful for being invited to the meal.
"Thank you for everything," she said.
Many of the Fredericksburg area's more than 100 refugees are enrolled in the Baptist church's ESL classes at the Bragg Hill Family Life Center.
Jeanne Anderson, the church's minister with adults and missions, invited the entire refugee community to the dinner through the Fredericksburg Refugee Service Center, which resettles local refugees.
The church rented a charter bus to pick up refugees from their homes--most of which are concentrated in the city's Bragg Hill neighborhood.
"We're thankful that you've chosen to spend part of this Thanksgiving with us," Anderson said to the mixed crowd of refugees and church members.
She highlighted refugees' and Americans' shared ancestry of immigrants and refugees, including some early colonists who came to America to escape religious persecution.
She read aloud from a children's book about pilgrims called "On to Plymouth Rock," copies of which were distributed to the refugee families.
Anderson also invited local refugees to a similar community Christmas meal at the Caroline Street church.
"We'll celebrate the birth of the one who we follow, Jesus Christ, and we'll also celebrate all of your birthdays," she said. "So it'll be one big birthday celebration."
Zaki Ali, an Ethiopian refugee, also experienced his first Thanksgiving.
Ali, who works at Wal-Mart, said he didn't understand why he had to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to customers.
"Today I know about it," he said. "I'm very grateful."
To reach NATASHA ALTAMIRANO:540/368-5036
Email: naltamirano@freelancestar.com
Date published: 11/23/2006
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