TUCSON (KGUN-TV) -- There was traditional Thanksgiving fare, but one holiday celebration in Tucson had food from all over the world.
On Thursday afternoon about 200 people gathered for the 4th Annual Iskashitaa Refugee Network Thanksgiving meal at an apartment complex near Speedway and Alvernon. Refugees were invited to bring dishes from their home countries, so there was rice from Iraq and desserts from Nepal.
While there has been recent debate over whether the United States should open our doors to refugees, the gathering was a place to give thanks.
"Refugees are some of the most grateful people I have every met," said Iskashitaa volunteer coordinator Jamie Booth. "Most of them want to give back to Tucson because Tucson has helped them."
"Refugees are people that are fleeing persecution and their lives are at risk, so nobody chooses to become a refugee," Booth said.
Among the guests on Thursday was Mohammed Alkhafji. He's from Iraq and came to the U.S. almost two years ago with his wife and children. Alkhafji is now a cook at a local restaurant and says life in the states is good, while living in Iraq became too dangerous.
The transition to life in the United States is not always easy. Linda Zarif's parents came to the U.S. from Lebanon 30 years ago.
"When we came it was completely different," Zarif said. "They have memories as kids as being treated like celebrities when they were refugees in the United States. And now it's become such a hot topic and it's become so controversial. And I think it's a very difficult time to be a refugee in the United States."
Zarif lives in Boston but grew up in Tucson and was here to visit family. She showed up to the refugee Thanksgiving to pass out books and toys to the children. She says she wants all refugees to feel welcome.
The gathering was also planned by the Desert Courtyards apartments. Iskashitaa works to integrate refugees to the Tucson area through various food harvesting programs. The group donates around 50 tons of food to refugees and local food banks every year.
