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With your support in 2022, we journeyed alongside refugee families—children, parents, elder uncles and aunties—as many faced staggering challenges like threats of deportation, loss of housing, lack of safety in their neighborhoods and food insecurity, and others celebrated high school graduations, pandemic-delayed in-person gatherings and reunions, new grand babies and other blessings. Over 2,000 community members passed through our doors for therapy, classes and support groups this year! 90 kids received backpacks chocked full of school supplies. 145 families received large toiletry kits, and several also received electric fans for their homes. For this holiday season, some of our young people need raincoats and shoes; families need groceries and rental assistance; and newly arrived refugees need furniture and appliances to start a home here. So from today until December 31st, every dollar donated to CERI will go directly toward these and other needs. As we look forward to 2023 and all we can accomplish together, we’d like to cheer: Here’s to the remarkably resilient people we presently serve and those we’ll meet in 2023, when they walk through our doors or we walk through theirs! Here’s to our staff who overcome exhaustion and unnerving system bureaucracy with ferocity, dedication, humor and love! Here’s to you and the increased stability you’ve given families trying to survive and thrive here in Oakland! We’re certainly not starting from zero in 2023, we’re starting from a position of strength, possibility, and expectation. Happy Holidays from every one of us! Love, CERI
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