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Syrian refugees celebrate first Thanksgiving

SEATTLE — Syrian refugee families now living in the Seattle area gathered for their first Thanksgiving dinner.

The event was put on by volunteers who came up with the idea last year. It quickly grew, and this year more than 125 people gathered in Pioneer Square for turkey and all of the fixings. 

This was about much more than a meal according to organizer Kirsten Leah Rogers, "Comfort, a sense of community, connection to Seattle. I hope everyone leaves today with a new friend."

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"We have an opportunity to welcome people to our city after pretty terrible hardships that are hard to imagine. We have a chance to welcome them and make them feel at home when they've lost their home. They've lost their families."

The room was room was full of smiles -- happiness, relief, and hope.

"The people who are in this room really care for the people who are here and they want to adopt these families and they want to take care of them," said Rita Zawaideh, who helps refugees in the Seattle area.

These families have been through so much. There was a board by the door where people wrote what they are thankful for: home, family, being alive.

Organizers say this is a new tradition they plan to continue. Many of the volunteers brought their entire families and everyone sat down together.