Open Doors for Refugees Summer Picnic

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courtesy Open Doors for Refugees

A person holding a plate of food.

A participant at the 2022 Open Doors for Refugees Summer Picnic.

media release: Open Doors for Refugees will hold its annual community celebration picnic on Sunday, July 9, from noon-4pm. This free event will take place at Madison’s Olin Park and is open to the public. The picnic features a variety of delicious food, fun activities for the family, and live entertainment. Musical acts include acclaimed klezmer band Yid Vicious and Ewe (Togolese) drummer Koffi Zoe Dogbevi. Family fun will include activities with Madison Public Library, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, and KEVA Sports Center. Wheels for Winners will also have a tent set up to provide bike tune-up services.

The picnic begins at noon with volunteers from Open Doors ready to welcome the community and receive dishes for the potluck. Attendees can enjoy a refreshing beverage, check out the activity stations, and enjoy a musical act as volunteers prepare the meal.

Potluck food service begins at 1 p.m. Enjoy foods from around the world followed by more entertainment, games, and activities. Resettled refugees and longer-term Madison residents of all backgrounds meet, eat, and connect at this popular annual community event.

Despite the challenges the pandemic presented in previous years, Open Doors' Summer 2022 picnic drew around 200 people to Olin Park. Open Doors hopes to have just as many, if not more, attendees this year to celebrate diversity and inclusive community in Madison.

Open Doors invites everyone to the picnic and encourages attendees to bring a dish or snack to share as they are able.

Open Doors for Refugees is a volunteer-led organization that welcomes and supports refugees in the Madison area. The organization was originally founded in 2015 in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, and is today a trusted community partner serving refugees of many ethnicities and nationalities arriving in Madison. For more information about the picnic, donations, or volunteer opportunities, contact OpenDoorsForRefugees@gmail.com.