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Volunteers Help FIRM with Thanksgiving Drive-Thru for Refugees
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
November 23, 2021

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A shortage of turkeys because of the supply chain may mean new immigrants and refugees may have a slightly different Thanksgiving tradition this year.

Some may get chicken instead. All will get a 25 pound bag of rice.

Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries is operating a Thanksgiving drive-thru, helping out the community it serves mainly in southeast Fresno.

The pandemic has changed how they help.

“FIRM used to do a lot of community events where we would come and eat together. Eating together is such an important part of who we are as FIRM. But due to COVID, we have learned how to do drive through events,” executive director Christine Barker said.

The main dining space is now being used as a COVID testing site twice a week.

FIRM expects to serve more than 300 families and 1,500 people, mainly those of southeast Asian and Hispanic descent. They also expect refugees from Syria to enjoy the American tradition as well.

Soon, they will help integrate refugees from Afghanistan.

To help donate, click here.

Volunteer Motivations

Inside the FIRM offices, several volunteers were bagging vegetables for the drive-thru.

Caselena Yang said volunteering is her life coming full-circle.

“When the opportunity arose for this position to be a community health worker, I took it because I felt like I was giving back to the community who also gave to me when I was younger and when we were going through hard times,” Yang said.

Thandeka Mcube will celebrate her first Thanksgiving. She is originally from Zimbabwe. She came to Fresno through a Mennonite Central exchange program.

“I miss home, but I enjoy what I’m doing. It’s good to give back. It is also good to to help the people in need. So it’s a nice experience all together,” she said.

She is not familiar with another Thanksgiving tradition, football.

“I’ll probably have a look at that and try and experience it and see how it goes,” she said.

Chavez Helps With Donation

FIRM’s goal is to raise $28,000 and they are almost there. Fresno City Council President Luis Chavez helped, by donating $3,000 from his office.

“The best way to the heart is through the stomach,” Chavez said while presenting the check to FIRM.

He also said the Thanksgiving food preparation is “community helping community.” Most of the fresh vegetables are grown locally by the southeast Asian community.

Luis Chavez (center) presents a check to FIRM along with Blong Xiong (left) and Christine Barker of FIRM.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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