North Carolina is one of the top ten states for placement of Syrian refugees. The state had accepted 467 refugees as of September. This is one of the 10,005 that were accepted nationwide, according to WTVD.

Chapel Hill is one of the cities that have been open about accepting refugees, with former mayor Mark Kleinschmidt saying that, “our community is a place for everyone,” last November.

Franklin Street restaurant Mediterranean Deli is trying to show that the community is for everyone by hosting a benefit Tuesday night for the Syrian refugees currently living in Chapel Hill.

“My motivation is having these really important people in my life, in my work environment, in my community,” said Ruby Brinkerhoff, Caterer at Med Deli. “And wanting to make sure that they’re supported.”

Brinkerhoff is organizing the event. She said a ticket to the benefit will include a buffet, an open bar and a silent auction, in which local artists will be selling their pieces. All the proceeds will go to the families in need.

“So in addition to the ticket price, which we will be donating, we’re going to donate all of the proceeds from that silent auction,” she said. “And people have the opportunity to take something home with them.”

Brinkerhoff said although Med Deli has been organizing the event for the past few months, it’s an especially important time to support these families.

“A lot of the responses we’re getting about the benefit are, ‘Wow, this is so important in such a difficult time,’ in a time where what you hear on the news and what you hear from political leaders is a lot of hatred and encouraging misunderstanding,” she said, “and encouraging prejudice.”

She said it’s also important because the families need to know that Chapel Hillians acknowledge them and support them.

“It’s about raising funds for these families, but it’s also about showing these families that come from a lot of hardship, war-torn areas and are coming to a completely new place—new country, new culture, new language, new everything,” Brinkerhoff said. “They have to start over and it’s an effort to show them that they have people that hear them, that see them, that support them, that want to get to know them.”

The event will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00. One ticket is $75.00, and two tickets are $125.00. To purchase tickets, email catering@mediterraneandeli.com or call 919-967-2666 and ask for Ruby.

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