A nonprofit dedicated to preserving the multicultural identity of Buford Highway in metro Atlanta organized a family feeding event on Saturday, serving over a thousand immigrants facing food insecurity as the holiday season approaches. The event, sponsored by WeLoveBufordHighway, drew hundreds of families who lined up outside Sequoya Middle School in Doraville hours before the festivities began.
Key Takeaways
- Over a thousand immigrants served at the event.
- Families received fresh produce, clothing, and COVID vaccines.
- The event aimed to address food insecurity and provide community support.
Participants were able to secure fresh produce, rice, canned goods, and clothing. Inside the school, families had access to wellness checks for children, COVID vaccinations, and even a chance to take photos with Santa Claus while enjoying holiday music performed by the Buford Highway Orchestra Project.
Volunteer Delia Mendez-Valdez emphasized the importance of such events, stating, "Our communities face issues like food insecurity and accessing social services due to limited English, and navigating documentation is overwhelming without a trusted community member."
The event was a collaborative effort involving the DeKalb County School District, Salvation Army, Latino nonprofit GALEO, health care nonprofit CareSource, and the Buford Highway Orchestra Project, which provides orchestral music education to over 50 students.
Maria Rampaly, a teacher with the Buford Highway Orchestra Project, highlighted the significance of community during the holidays, saying, "The holidays are always a difficult time for people who live in poverty, and to enjoy themselves without pressures of having to spend money is just really important for these families."
Dubbed a "holiday healing event," the gathering also addressed the fears surrounding immigration policies, particularly in light of President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of mass deportations. WeLoveBufordHighway Executive Director Lily Pabian noted, "Our communities are scared. When you think of communities along Buford Highway, our families are of mixed-citizenship status where the head of the household is typically not a citizen, so there is a lot of fear."
Pabian pointed out that fear tactics have already begun, citing racist text messages sent to Latino community members claiming they were selected for deportation. She stressed the need for community education on rights and protections against such threats.
A 29-year-old mother from Chamblee, who wished to remain anonymous due to her family’s mixed-citizenship status, shared her perspective on the importance of community events. "The holidays are a very difficult time of the year for many of us," she said in Spanish. When asked about the upcoming administration, she expressed, "There is a lot of fear. We just put our fate in the hands of God."
WeLoveBufordHighway Board President Seam Park, who immigrated from South Korea in 1988, joined the nonprofit to give back to a community that provided him with a sense of belonging. He reflected on his family’s experience, stating, "After immigrating, my family was looking for a community of Asian people and found Buford Highway as a place to get groceries, haircuts, and make connections."
Park emphasized the importance of preserving the diverse immigrant community along Buford Highway, saying, "Working with WeLoveBufordHighway gives me a chance to return to this sense of belonging and safeguard this constantly-evolving community."
