Families Welcomed Back to the NVFS Multicultural Center
For two years the staff at NVFS' Multicultural Center (MC) have only been able to virtually celebrate the holiday season with the families they support. This year, families were invited to the MC office in-person to collect toys for their children provided by NVFS' Gifting for Families drive. In addition, families received self-care kits for children and adults, baked treats, and other household items.
"We did not want to let more time pass without creating an opportunity to reconnect, face to face," explained Paola Sandoval-Moshenberg, the Director of the Multicultural Center.
In addition to picking up their items, each family had the chance to participate in a collaborative art project where they shared what helped them overcome the difficulties of these past two years. The project revealed that it was people – in their families, communities, as well as the NVFS staff – who made the biggest difference in their lives during the pandemic. NVFS, the MC, and the staff that work so closely with families were mentioned again and again as a major source of support.
The needs of the families that use the specialized services at the MC are as diverse as the immigrant and refugee communities that many of them come from. Our staff, equally as diverse, uses their fluency in an array of languages and culture to overcome the cultural, linguistic, and financial barriers that block many from acquiring the critical resources and services needed to build a safe, healthy, and productive future in Northern Virginia.
We are honored to be among the list of supports our MC clients can count on. And, similarly, we are grateful to know that we are supported by the donors, volunteers, and organizations that make up our Northern Virginia community so that we can continue to support our neighbors in need.
Visit our site to learn more about the Multicultural Center and the Immigrant Resiliency Fund.
