Community and Allies!
My name is Karen Gamez, I’m a UW alumni and former Coordinator, Leadership Without Borders. A friend and I created a small community organization called Relief and Empowerment for Immigrant Families (REIF). We are inviting community members to donate toys for families that have a loved one detained in the immigration detention center in Tacoma. We hope to demonstrate to these families that they are not alone and also make the holiday season a little bit better.
We ask for donations of new unwrapped toys, school supplies, new clothes, coloring books, and reading books for children ages 3-15. Last year, we created care packages. If you know of any families that are in need, please let us know and we can put a care package together for them as well. Donation drop off bins are located at the Kelly ECC beginning Monday, December 2 until Friday, December 20th.
Donations will be delivered to the immigration detention center the weekend before Christmas. We usually arrange a booth with all the toys and donations, and as the kids are visiting their relatives, have them choose what they would like to take home.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out to us at our email reifamilies@gmail.com or if you would like to reach out to me individually feel free to email me at arlettek.gamez@gmail.com or text/call me at (253)653-3855.