Support a Beautiful Wedding for Refugee Family

My synagogue, Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, has been supporting a refugee family from Venezuela for the past year. They are a very special family and have become a part of my family. A few of us are helping to facilitate an intimate, beautiful wedding for the two parents in January. They have two lovely daughters (ages 6 and 9) who are flourishing. They have been together for 16 years, yet they never married due to survival being a priority and other factors related to persecution and poverty. Although they are not Jewish, our community has become very important to them and our Rabbi will be officiating in a non-religious capacity. It means so much to us that they wanted him to be a part of their ceremony and that they feel so comfortable being married in a synagogue.

Both parents work full time (he is a landscaper; she is a childcare provider) however, they have a limited budget to make this day special. Our community and a few volunteers are helping to cover some of the costs. A friend of the bride is baking the cake. We are even able to livestream the wedding so that their family and friends in Venezuela can view the ceremony! The bride has been carefully and slowly saving money to buy new clothing for the family to wear.

We would be so grateful for your help towards covering food, supplies (disposable plates, glasses and flatware) and a few accessories.