An Extraordinary Night for Refugee Families
It was an incredible evening. Over 500 of us gathered together on May 1st at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center to connect with neighbors and friends, bid on silent auction items, create lovely flower arrangements, and enjoy great food and conversation. There were so many smiles at the 2026 Spring Fling.
Ahmad Ali Noorestani grounded us with his story of how he and his family arrived in the United States from Afghanistan. He and his family have overcome so much, with a truly remarkable hope in tact.
Refugees in the United States face enormous challenges—executive director Ann McGlynn told those in attendance about many of them in her address that evening. Green cards for refugees are no longer being processed by the federal government, SNAP benefits have been cut, and Medicaid will soon follow.
And yet, the gardens grow, the children play, and our supporters show up over and over again to do what they can to help.
Despite unspeakable obstacles, Ali and his family are safe and flourishing here in the Quad Cities. Despite enormous challenges, Tapestry Farms families carry on, one foot in front of another. Human potential is remarkable, even in the most difficult circumstances. And as Ali pointed out, those who filled the room at the 2026 Spring Fling are the kind of people who meet the hardship in front of them and choose to carry forward with goodness and kindness. That night, our supporters did so with extraordinary generosity…
Together we raised $103,623.48 for Tapestry Farms!
Over 500 people gathered at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center to support the work of Tapestry Farms on May 1, 2026.
“There are many voices in this world that try to divide us. They tell us not to love each other—because of beliefs, labels, colors, or differences. They try to make us hate people we have never met… people we have never seen… people whose lives we know nothing about. They push us to judge, without understanding. There are also people who choose a different path. People who carry the light of humanity. And tonight, I believe those people are sitting right here in front of me. You are the ones who carry forward the goodness of being human and pass it on to the next generation. You believe in helping those who are less fortunate. You believe in kindness, in dignity, in humanity. And I believe we all share one mission: To reconnect this world with love.”
Ahmad Ali Noorestani generously shared his reflections on his family’s journey to the United States from Afghanistan.
We are so grateful for everyone who made the evening possible and for the incredible generosity of our sponsors, volunteers, and supporters!
