Check out our latest newsletter here! In it, you'll find:

• How to attend our Community Coordination Meeting on Aug. 16 in Boise.
• Volunteer opportunities & a job opening.
• Refugee Speakers Bureau is participating in StoryCorps recordings this month.
• Global Gardens CSA - late summer sign-ups now open!
• August marks the one-year anniversary of the evacuation of more than 80,000 Afghan refugees to the U.S. 
• August 24 is Ukrainian Independence Day. 
• Welcoming Week is in September.
• Idaho refugee arrival updates.
• Welcome new IOR team members, and welcome back to Director Tara Wolfson from her monthlong trip to East Africa.
• Language Corner: How to greet new neighbors in Dari.
• Staff Picks: What we're listening to, watching and reading.

Global Gardens, our Boise-based program for farmers, is grateful to announce that Spirit Airlines has generously donated $20,000 toward our efforts!

The airlines presented the check to our team on Friday, Aug. 5, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the airline's first flight from Boise. 

Funny story - we almost missed this amazing opportunity.

​"I have a confession to make," said Rabiou Manzo, Global Gardens program manager (first picture above). "With all the spam calls we receive these days, when I first picked up Lanie’s call from Spirit Airlines, I thought for a minute that I had picked a spam call. I almost said, 'Thank you, but I’m busy right now.' I’m so grateful that I didn’t!"

This donation creates a win-win by helping farmers take their careers to the next level while giving the local community more access to fresh produce.

For almost 20 years Global Gardens has provided training and resources to refugee and immigrant farmers, allowing them to continue farming as they rebuild their lives here in the U.S. Several of our farmers grow ethnic produce from their home countries that otherwise wouldn’t be accessible to local buyers.

We currently have six farm sites and 16 farmers in the Global Gardens program. Land is generously leased at no charge by the City of Boise,  Five Mile Church of the Nazarene, Blue Cross of Idaho, Healthwise, the Idaho Department of Correction, and a private Boise resident.

"It’s exciting to see Spirit Airlines come alongside our mission to build healthier communities and bring more opportunities to the farmers who grow our food locally," Rabiou said.

We're not the only ones benefitting. The Spirit Charitable Foundation has committed to give $1 million in 2022 toward helping children and their family members, service members, and the environment, according to Simple Flying. We're grateful to be among the recipients.
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It's not too late to join the Global Garden's CSA program. Members of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) receive weekly produce from a Global Gardens farmer. It's the largest CSA program in the Treasure Valley!

​Visit globalgardensboise.org before Aug. 21 coming days to sign up for the final six weeks of the growing season. 

Calling Boise-area volunteers! The English Language Center is growing and could use your help on Mondays, Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays during the day. Classroom volunteers help with small group activities, one-on-one practice, and material preparation. The ELC serves adults who are newly resettled in Boise.

Sign up here!