Denver, Colorado has a large immigrant population from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In order to accommodate this growing population and help them in their process the Denver Health Lowry Clinic hosts an annual giveaway where they provide toys, clothes, shoes, backpacks, and pajamas. Before receiving items at the drive many of the families have to suffer with using inadequate items because that is all they can afford at the time.
This news story follows the Kemabala family from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Emmanuel Kemabala, his son Joshua and the rest of their family have been on the run from political pursuit in their home country for a few years now. After finding asylum in the states the major problem the Kemabala’s faced was their income not matching up to the high cost of living in Denver, Colorado. The annual giveaway, while not solving all of the Kemabala’s problems, helps to ensure they receive the necessities to start living a better way of life.
All of the items at the annual drive are free for families to receive. Along with necessities the clinic also offers toys and entertainment items for the children in order for them to actually enjoy their childhood and not focus on the daily struggles of being refugees and immigrants. The Denver Health
Clinic has hosted this event for four years and is one of four resettlement sites in all of Colorado. They aim to continuously provide this event and other services for refugees and immigrants every year.