NC -- Burmese refugees were able to enjoy an American Christmas thanks to volunteers at a Greensboro church on Christmas day.
Close to 150 Burmese refugees attended a service and dinner at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church on Horse Pen Creek Road.
The Christmas mass started at 11:30 a.m., which was followed by a huge Christmas dinner.
About 50 people volunteered to help serve dinner and give gifts to the children.
"There are so many people here, who have shown up to volunteer, on Christmas Day, when they could have been home with their families and things, but they came here," said organizer, Liam Stapleton.
Stapleton called it heartwarming.
"We're trying to integrate them into the communities here. And this is kind of that first step towards that. So, we just want to make sure that they're welcome," he said.
Santa Clause was also in attendance to help distribute gifts to the refugees.
"It's wonderful. It's what Christmas is all about, being with people, helping them and just sharing the joy," said Freda Mandarano, who volunteered to help.
The refugees had to escape from Burma, which is now Myanmar, more than a decade ago. They were forced to leave by the government. Before they came to the U.S., many of the refugees spent 15 to 20 years in refugee camps in Thailand and Malaysia.
Source : http://www.digtriad.com/
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