This year’s annual Night of 1000 Dinners, a community celebration of International Women’s Day, will include an international buffet dinner, entertainment, and recognition of women-led organizations advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal #3, Good Health and Well-Being, with an emphasis on the health and well-being of refugees and immigrants.
Proceeds will benefit three women-led organizations and initiatives advancing that goal: the Free Medical and Dental Clinic, Prairielands Freedom Fund, and Healthy Start for Refugee Children. Proceeds will also support the educational work of the Johnson County United Nations Association (JCUNA). The Coralville Public Library will also be recognized for its services to refugees and immigrants.
The Free Medical and Dental Clinic provides a wide range of medical and dental services to people in our community who would not otherwise have access to care; most of its clients are refugees and immigrants. The Prairielands Freedom Fund pays immigration bond and pre-trial bail to minimize the harm imprisonment inflicts on individuals, families and communities. Healthy Start for Refugee Children is an international initiative to provide health services such as childhood immunizations to forcibly displaced families in Africa.
The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Equity and Human Rights and several local businesses, non-profits, UI entities, and individual sponsors.
Tickets are $50 and just $20 for students and those with limited income, and may be purchased online or by mailing a check payable to JCUNA to JCUNA, 308 E. Burlington St., #245, Iowa City IA 52240. Donations are gratefully accepted and will be used to help support participation by people who would not otherwise be able to attend.
JCUNA (http://www.johnsoncountyuna.org) is the local affiliate of the United Nations Association - USA; a national non-governmental, non-partisan membership movement advocating for constructive U.S. leadership to support the life-saving and life-changing work of the United Nations.