Events: Please join us at our next event!
APRIL- DIAPER DRIVE Continues
April 25- Volunteer Information Meeting, 4pm
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION MEETING - April 25, 4:00pm
Join us for our next volunteer training session. This is the first
step to becoming involved in helping refugees in the community through
our program. Learn about refugee issues and how you can help!
Trainings will be offered at least once a month.
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time: 4:00- 5:00 PM
Location: South Wyoming United Methodist Church
Call (616) 206-4477 or email us at refugeesupportgr@hotmail.com for more information about any of these events.
DIAPER DRIVE!!!
Our Diaper Drive is being extended due to the many needs in this area! We have
had quite a few new refugee babies born, and more are on the way!
Diapers can be expensive and are not covered by food stamps or other
aide, so we are collecting for our new moms! Drop off diapers or other
baby items at our office or selected locations around Grand Rapids.
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Recent Events:
On March 31st, we gave the parents a break and had Refugee Kids' Fun Day! The kids were able to play games, do crafts, learn about computers, get their faces painted, and more! Thanks to all the extra volunteers who showed up to help with this event!
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Thrive was invited to the WYCE Jammies on February 14th, and collected non- perishable food items for our families, as well as a truck load full of clothing that was donated to a local resettlement program. Take a look at all the food that was collected!
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In
January we hosted Smile Dental Clinic to come to Thrive and check and
clean teeth for ALL of our refugee children who had not seen a dentist.
23 refugees were seen for the first time by an American Dentist!
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On Nov. 22nd we had a celebration for Thrive's officially becoming a non- profit and for E.D. Jessica Gladden's 35th birthday party.
Three
bands played: Youz Guyz, The
Beanpoles and Badenya Drum and Dance at Stone House
Recording Studio. We had a great time, raised a lot of money for the program and gave away some excellent raffle prizes! Thanks for joining us for the celebration!
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Thrive's "Pre-clinic Clinic" to help prepare the paperwork for Justice for Our Neighbor's Legal Clinic. After one year refugees are required to change their legal status to legal permanent resident. Thrive helped 29 refugees fill out paperwork for themselves or their children, and sent them on to JFON for the meeting with the lawyers.
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Special Thanks to ToolSelect.com, Formula Automatic, LDT COnstruction Services and Home Inspection Services of Michigan for being business sponsors for the Hat Trick show!
David Olney and Sergio
Webb performed at the WYCE Hat Track show, with donations going to Thrive!
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Stride and Ride and Ride for Refuge Fundraisers - together we raised almost $3,000! Great job team!
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THRIVE OPENING EVENT took place on June 20th, 2011 - World Refugee Day. We celebrated the beginning of our agency with an evening of African Dance by Badenya
Drumming Ensemble and an introduction to our program. It was followed by the film
"Welcome to Shelbyville" and discussion hosted by Bethany Christian
Services.
Video and Photos:
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WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2011: The
Red Cross and other area refugee agencies hosted an event for
World Refugee Day on June 25th. Performers and speakers ran from 11am- 4pm and
many area agencies, including Thrive, had booths with information. We also had a craft booth with items from Kenya for sale! This event was a great success with about 300 people attending.
