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The perfect feel-good gift for Valentine’s Day!

by Adam Hendrickson


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The perfect feel-good gift for Valentine’s Day!

You know how we like to use any and every opportunity to bring you unique and delicious food that also economically benefits refugees?!?! Join us this Valentine’s Day in celebrating love, welcome, and community by gifting (and eating!) expertly made and beautifully packaged BAKLAVA!  

This Iraqi Pistachio Baklava, made by one of Missoula’s refugee chefs, won Best Sweet Treat at the 2018 Western Montana Fair and is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for yourself, your friends, or your special someone. 

ORDER: It’s so EASY! Just fill out this Google form with your name and phone number, plus the amount you would like to purchase!

PICKUP: Wednesday, February 13th from 9:00am – 5:30pm
at the Soft Landing office:
939 Stephens Ave Suite C
Missoula, MT 59804

PAYMENT: To be made at the time of pickup! We accept check, cash, or credit cards. 

As with all of Soft Landing’s food initiatives, we will be utilizing our Eat, Give, Love model. When you pay you will have the option to: 

EAT: the cost of your baklava, where ALL proceeds go to the refugee chef
GIVE  the cost of your baklava plus an additional $10 donation in support of Soft Landing Missoula
LOVE: the cost of your baklava plus an additional $20 donation in support of Soft Landing Missoula

All levels are welcome and appreciated!

PLACE YOUR ORDER BY WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7th!
https://goo.gl/forms/wGU5JbXofZfiii7x2

Reach out us at 406-493-0504 or to
ashly@softlandingmissoula.org with any questions!

Thank you so much for helping us SHARE THE LOVE!

– In love and gratitude, Mary Poole
Executive Director
Soft Landing Missoula


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January Supper Club

by Adam Hendrickson

Join us at Masala for Soft Landing Missoula’s January 27th supper club! This month we are so excited to showcase the talents of guest chefs Ammar & Zena Omar, brother and sister, and owners of Kamoon Arabian Cuisine.

The Soft Landing Missoula Supper Club aims to introduce the incredible culinary talent of Missoula’s newest neighbors and international residents, whose rich and flavorful cooking traditions provide a cultural bridge and enrich our shared community.

Outside of this Supper Club, you can find Kamoon Arabian Cuisine parked at Imagine Nation Brewing everyday except Thursdays. They also cater events at an affordable cost with delicious Middle Eastern cuisine. For more information check out their Facebook page. For this supper club they will prepare an array of savory and sweet Iraqi dishes with options for vegetarians. This will be an excellent opportunity to explore new flavors while supporting refugee entrepreneurship in Missoula, MT! Check out this great recent article from the Missoula Current.


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Where: Masala, 206 W Main St , MT 59802

When: Sunday, January 27th.  Doors at 5:30 pm and dinner at 6:00pm

Cost: Eat: $40/person Give: $60/person Love: $80/person

When you pay you will have the option to: Eat: $40 for a delicious family style dinner, where a portion of the cost covers ingredients and staff time, and the rest goes to the guest chef. Give: $60 gets you the same delicious dinner, but with an additional $20 going directly to the guest chef. Love: $80 gives an additional $40 directly to the guest chef to collectively make this an unforgettable evening! All levels are welcome and appreciated!

How: To make a reservation call Masala @ (406) 926-6444. Please note if you are a vegetarian.

Please direct any further questions to megan@softlandingmissoula.org

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Educational Opportunities Informational Session

by Adam Hendrickson

Are you a volunteer, mentor, teacher, friend, or refugee that is interested in learning what it takes for an English Language Learner to access higher education and increase opportunities for career and financial success in America? Would you like to understand realistic goal setting and timelines of achieving important new skills, trainings, and certifications- all while trying to learn a new language? Whether you would like information about how to earn a high school equivalency diploma (HiSET), transition from graduating from high school to higher education, or how to help guide a friend through this long process, head to the International Rescue Committee office on Saturday, January 26th. All are welcome. Sessions will be translated into Swahili and Tigrinya. Childcare will be available. For more information check out the flyer below!


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December Supper Club

by Adam Hendrickson

This month’s supper club will share a taste of Israel with Missoula from the experienced and talented chef Tadesse Gebreslasie! Tadesse is Eritrean, but lived in Israel for many years and worked as a chef before coming to Missoula. He brings his unique experience and influence to the Soft Landing Missoula supper club and we could not be more excited to feature his food this month!

The Soft Landing Missoula Supper Club aims to introduce the incredible culinary talent of Missoula’s newest neighbors and international residents, whose rich and flavorful cooking traditions provide a cultural bridge and enrich our shared community.


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Where: Masala, 206 W Main St , MT 59802

When: Sunday, December 16th.  Doors at 5:30 pm and dinner at 6:00pm

Cost: Eat: $40/person Give: $60/person Love: $80/person

When you pay you will have the option to: Eat: $40 for a delicious family style dinner, where a portion of the cost covers ingredients and staff time, and the rest goes to the guest chef. Give: $60 gets you the same delicious dinner, but with an additional $20 going directly to the guest chef. Love: $80 gives an additional $40 directly to the guest chef to collectively make this an unforgettable evening! All levels are welcome and appreciated!

How: To make a reservation call Masala @ (406) 926-6444.

Please direct any further questions to megan@softlandingmissoula.org

Cookie Crumb for SLM!

by Adam Hendrickson

A friend of Soft Landing will be holding a fundraiser for us this Sunday, December 2! Cookies include 17 different flavors, all of them are gluten-free. There will be about 20 assorted cookies in a tray for $15. The event will be held on Sunday at Montana Distillery from 12-4 and there will be non-alcohol beverages as well as the goodies from the distillery. For fun this year there will be a cookie decorating contest (ugly sweater style cookie) the winner will get a free tray of cookies!

To order call Jennifer at 406-220-1166 or just head to the distillery this weekend and grab yourself a tray!


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Canvas Studio Supply Drive for Soft Landing Missoula!

by Adam Hendrickson

It is the time of year of giving and the wonderful Canvas Studio is doing a supply drive for self care products for all the lovely refugee women who have recently made Missoula home!

The drive will happen Friday, November 30th & Saturday, December 1st from 10am-4pm! Bring your items to Canvas Studios located @ 429 Madison St, Missoula, MT 59802. They will be having a big sale on some great self care items on those days as well!

Canvas Studios is collecting the following:

  • Hair Care Items! 

    • Specifically styling products & tools for POC.

  • New Toiletries! 

    • Specifically for Women, teens & babies.

  • Favorite Self-Care Items!

    • Manicure Set? Blank Journal? Art Supplies? Cozy Things? Anything you enjoy for taking care of yourself.

  • Sally Beauty Supply OR Department Store Gift Card! 

    • Sally Beauty Supply is maybe the best spot for POC to find appropriate products, but we will gladly accept any donation amount to any store of your choosing.

For more information check out the Canvas Studios Instagram!

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REVO Workout for Soft Landing Missoula!

by Adam Hendrickson

REVO Training is hosting two more workouts for Soft Landing Missoula! REVO Training supports local nonprofits by hosting Saturday workouts where all proceeds go to organizations working in our community, while allowing you to exercise for a good cause (beyond your own health!)!

Minimum donation of $5 when you attend a workout with all proceeds going directly to Soft Landing Missoula!

  • Saturday, December 1st 9:00 am – 10:00 am

  • Saturday, December 15th 9:00 am – 10:00 am

REVO Training is located @ 1200 W Kent Ave, Missoula, MT 59801

For more information check out the Facebook event! We look forward to seeing you there!


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Driver’s Ed Volunteer Opportunity

by Adam Hendrickson

Soft Landing Missoula is in search of more volunteer driving instructors! This is one of the most important direct service volunteer opportunities with Soft Landing. Driving is an incredibly powerful way to increase self sufficiency for refugees, both economically and socially, especially single mothers. With many new families having arrived over the summer and winter on its way, there are many eager students ready to get their license!

Driving volunteers take refugees who have their Learner’s Permit out to practice driving around Missoula. The students range in experience levels from never having driven a car to just needing to practice once or twice before they take their test. If you are interested in volunteering, email volunteer@softlandingmissoula.org for more details!

November Supper Club

by Adam Hendrickson

We are thrilled to announce the United We Eat November Supper Club featuring Eritrean cuisine by the incredibly talented chefs Haben Asgedom and Abeba Meshesha!

The Soft Landing Missoula Supper Club aims to introduce the incredible culinary talent of Missoula’s newest neighbors, whose rich and flavorful cooking traditions provide a cultural bridge and enrich our shared community.

This month dinner will be at Scotty’s Table for the first time. We could not be more excited to partner with this wonderful restaurant to serve the unique and bold flavors of Eritrean cuisine! This supper club will be in a laid back friendly atmosphere with dinner served buffet style so you can sample a variety of traditional Eritrean dishes.


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Where: Scotty’s Table 131 South Higgins Avenue U3, Missoula, MT 59802

When: Monday, November 19th.  Doors at 6:00 pm and dinner at 6:30pm

Cost: Eat: $40/person Give: $60/person Love: $80/person

When you pay you will have the option to: Eat: $40 for a delicious family style dinner, where a portion of the cost covers ingredients and staff time, and the rest goes to the guest chef. Give: $60 gets you the same delicious dinner, but with an additional $20 going directly to the guest chef. Love: $80 gives an additional $40 directly to the guest chef to collectively make this an unforgettable evening! All levels are welcome and appreciated!

How: To make a reservation call Soft Landing Missoula @ (406) 493-0504. Please leave your name, # of people in your party, email and your phone #.

Please direct any further questions to megan@softlandingmissoula.org

‘Public Charge’ changes imperil refugees and immigrants

by Adam Hendrickson

Proposed changes by the Department of Homeland Security, broadening the definition of who is “likely to become a public charge,” could harm many children and families of non-resident, documented immigrants and even affect refugees, who may not realize that they are legally exempt from the rule.

Until now, the government has only looked at an immigrants’ use of cash benefits such as TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). Now, the government wants to also scrutinize immigrants’ use of non-cash benefits such as SNAP (food stamps), CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) and other Medicaid benefits, housing assistance and possibly even WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children).

This looming rule change sets up an awful choice—healthy families now or possible U.S. residency later. Forgo benefits and your kids will be harmed because they won’t have access to programs that put food on the table, or a roof over their heads. Use these benefits to build a foundation for the future and risk there being no future at all—at least in this country. Pregnant and breastfeeding moms would be forced to decide whether to forgo Medicaid. If WIC is included in the rule, early nutrition for kids could be sacrificed. Immigrants who forgo life-saving procedures may pay with their lives.

The prospect of such a drastic change has already precipitated a public health crisis as many documented immigrants—and even some refugees–have taken themselves and their families off such programs. Even though they are legally protected from the operation of this rule, refugee families don’t necessarily understand the fine points and react out of fear. According to the International Rescue Committee, “The last time the definition of public charge was expanded, for example, refugee use of benefits fell drastically even though they were still eligible: food stamps fell by 60%, TANF by 78% and Medicaid by 39%.”

The long-term health consequences of this near-sighted idea, upending decades of immigration policy, could be costly to society. Children and families will lose access to preventative health measures, a cost that will resonate over decades. There will be increased emergency room costs and higher healthcare expenditures in later years.

Is this what we as a nation want? As an organization formed to help refugees resettle in Missoula, we also recognize the broader immigrant community and strongly disagree with this unnecessary obstacle to their success. It ultimately weakens this country as well.  

DHS is taking comments for 60 days until Dec. 10, before the rule change becomes permanent. Tell the government why you think this rule change is harmful.

(Mail: Samantha Deshommes, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20529-2140. Please reference DHS Docket No. USCIS-2010-0012).

The IRC also has an excellent toolkit to help you fashion an effective message to the government.