World Refugee Soccer Tournament

Summer is the perfect time of year for a glass of iced tea!
 
In honor of World Refugee Day, we had the privilege of being a part of the World Refugee Soccer Tournament. The event was hosted by Bethany Christian Services, a local refugee resettlement agency. Players, both refugees and non-refugees, arrived early to begin a day of friendly competition. There were a total of 12 teams and many spectators roaming between the tents and fields. The winners were The Grand Rapids Thundercats, which included players from Burma, Bhutan, Nepal, and Vietnam.

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Photo credit: Dan Slane

Photo credit: Dan Slane

RefuTea had a booth setup alongside ethnic food tents, children’s activities, and the Salvation Army, who offered free international phone calls. (How cool is that!) We served a delicious peppermint tea lemonade that was both refreshing and tasty! The recipe is rather simple - a bag of Peaceful Peppermint, brewed like regular tea, chilled and mixed with any brand of store bought lemonade, or homemade lemonade if you prefer!
 
It was a joy to see the faces of people from all around the world, laughing, smiling, and even sweating. As we come upon the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, I’m reminded of the way sports bring people from all different backgrounds together. Though we may not speak the same language, eat the same food, or live the same way, we share the memories of watching athletes from around the world promote hard work, perseverance, and respect for fellow competitors.

RefuTea was honored to serve the refugee community by donating 10% of all sales to Bethany Christian Services.

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