If you’ve ever been to CERI, you know you’ll leave well-fed. 

CERI began with community members bringing home-cooked food to their support groups to share with each other. It has become a CERI tradition that we feed people for every program and gathering that we can.

Food is an essential part of our healing - physically, mentally, and culturally. From that first forkful of spicy Cambodian noodles, to that perfect bite of a Nepali or Tibetan momo, or the buttery, flakey Burmese roti dipped in chicken curry, eating together is one way we show love, care, and connection to culture.

Warm bellies warm our hearts. Sharing a meal helps people feel comfortable and connected to each other, it helps the group form bonds, it reduces the stigma of a “mental health group,” and encourages people to show up. Of course, consistent hot meals are also important for the physical nourishment of our community members.

Simply put, we just can’t do our work without feeding our people. We estimate that we provide up to 10,000 meals per year!

Unfortunately, we are all feeling the rising food costs. Please help us raise $10,000 that will provide: 

  • $10 - one meal for a community member

  • $100 - dinner after school for ten youth in our youth program

  • $200 - lunch for an elder support group of 20 people

  • $1,000 - food for a community event reaching 100 people 

  • $5,000 - sponsor food for a neighborhood-wide cultural event

Thank you so much for your support nourishing our communities! We hope that with your gift, you also receive the nourishment of being an essential part of this work 🍛🍜 🍗

Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI) is a nonprofit organization based in Oakland with a mission to cultivate the healing, advocacy, and empowerment of refugee and immigrant communities affected by war, torture, genocide, and other life-altering traumas.

Or, you can use the following methods:

PayPal: paypal.me/CERIeastbay

Check: Payable to “CERI” and mailed to 554 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

CERI is an Oakland-based nonprofit organization serving refugees and immigrants affected by war, torture, genocide or other life-altering traumas. Founded in 2005 by bilingual/bicultural mental health professionals, we journey alongside refugees and immigrants to provide culturally attuned mental health and other social services.

All donations are tax-deductible.