Sat 8/29-Sat 9/26
For ten years, the nonprofit Refugee Response has assisted refugees in settling into life in Cleveland. And each year, it hosts a big annual benefit dinner, REAP the benefit, at Ohio City Farm, where its growing space helps farmer refugees adapt their skills to this region’s climate.
This year, though, it’s had to change the model. Instead of celebrating its tenth anniversary with an evening at the farm with food, music and the opportunity to see the work being done there, Refugee Response is adapting to the pandemic with series of remote dinners and other special events from August 29 through September 26. So while supporters won’t be able to see the food growing, they’ll still be able to taste it.
Each meal, prepared by a local chef or independent restaurant, will be delivered to the home of ticketholders in tote bags made by refugee seamstresses. The dinners will be augmented by live streamed films, forums and concerts to share on social media, as well as virtual tours of the farm.
The lineup of chefs (subject to change, as one already has) and other events includes Karen Small of Flying Fig (August 29) with music by Shyam Nepali; a screening of the film How Far Is Home, with a discussion with the two Refugee Response clients featured in the film (September 5); Jeremy Umansky of Larder (September 12) with music by Minneapolis musician Paul Metzger; Jose Coronado of Felice Urban Café (September 19); a live concert from Malawi with musicians from the Dzukani Project (September 20); and Doug Katz of Fire/Zhug/Provenance (September 26) with music by Akron’s Michael McFarland. Vegetarian options are available for all dinners. Each meal is $65, or $260 for all four, and tickets are on sale now. Cocktails are also available for purchase from participating restaurants.
Refugee Response is working to raise money for new offices to allow them to consolidate services, locate near health care, child care and other support organizations, and host events and meetings.
refugeeresponse.org/benefit-2020
Cleveland, OH 44113