Volunteers Deliver 200 Thanksgiving Meals to Syrian Refugees in San Diego

Each meal included a roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed veggies, salad, dinner rolls and pie

Volunteers hand-delivered 200 Thanksgiving meals to Syrian refugee families living in San Diego on Wednesday.

The meals were delivered to refugee families living in El Cajon, City Heights and La Mesa.

Local photographers held family photo sessions to raise more than $10,000 to pay for the meals. The fundraiser was part of Heart4Refugees.

"I am from Syria and my heart breaks for these people who are forced to leave their homes and their country and start somewhere new," said Photographer and volunteer Kinda Arzon.

Arzon told NBC 7 that she also volunteered her time and camera to help raise money for the meals. She added that for many of the refugees, it would be their first experience eating a Thanksgiving meal. Volunteers had attached a letter to each meal that explained in Arabic why the holiday was celebrated in the U.S.

“This is not a religious holiday. This is basically a gathering of the family to give thanks," Arzon said.

Trang Chesler brought her two sons, Brady and Dylan to deliver meals. 

“I really wanted to show my boys the importance of giving back," she said.

She told NBC 7 she came to the U.S. 41 years ago when she was just over 2 years old. She said it was with the help of others her family was able to create a life for themselves in a new country.

Each meal is meant to feed seven people and included a roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed veggies, salad, dinner rolls and pie.

“What my ultimate goal is, for them to see that there’s so many people that do care about them. There’s a lot of American citizens that signed up today to deliver these meals to them because they love them, show them love and show them what Thanksgiving is all about," Arzon said.

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