Upcoming Old Lyme Community Supper Supports Refugee Family

THE LYMES, CT - From Old Lyme Refugee Committee: The Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement (OLRR) Committee – a group of volunteers sponsored by the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church and Christ the King Church – will hold its third annual International Community Supper on Saturday, April 27, at 6:00 p.m., at Christ the King Church to support the committee’s efforts to relocate the Kazadi family from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Joseph and Martine, and their three children, Miriame (age 17), Drysile (age 13) and Joe (age 9)
were forced to flee their home in Kinshasa in 2012. The family lived in refugee camps in Kenya
for four years until they were brought to New Haven in 2016 by IRIS (Integrated Refugee &
Immigrant Services), a federally recognized refugee-resettlement agency. The OLRR Committee
relocated the family to Old Lyme last October, helping them find new housing, support services,
jobs and schools, as they started life over here in the U.S.

There is no charge to attend the supper of delicious and authentic international cuisines.
Admission is free. However, donations will be accepted at the door, and a silent auction will be
held to encourage contributions to the committee’s ongoing efforts to relocate families in
need.

In previous years, dinners were held to help support the relocation of the Colon family from
Puerto Rico and the Hamou family from Syria. Both of these families will be on hand at this
year’s dinner to help welcome Old Lyme’s newest neighbors. OLRR Committee Volunteer
Nancy Mol said, “I invite everyone in Lyme and Old Lyme to join us for this fund-raising supper –
it’s going to be an evening filled with the great food, warmth and camaraderie that comes from
neighbors helping neighbors.

Residents who would like to make a donation to support the OLRR Committee’s relocations
efforts can contact any of the church offices via email: FCCOL at fccol@fccol.org; Christ the King
Church at ctkoldlyme@aol.com; Saint Ann's Episcopal Church at office@saintannsoldlyme.org.