The Big Payback started out a little slow for Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors until we received a late night text on May 4th. At that time, Hamid Durani pledged to match the next $5000 donated to Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors. We sent a message out on social media and donors were activated. Because we had the most number of unique donors that evening between the hours of 10:00pm and 2:00am, we also won a $1,500 prize. Thanks to the support of 124 donors, Mr. Durani’s match, and the prize Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors raised $22,935 dollars during the Big Payback. 

A few days later, Mr. Durani came to visit the office and met some of the staff, volunteer interpreters, volunteer attorneys, and Professor Karla McKanders of the Vanderbilt Immigration Practice Clinic. It was the 10th Saturday clinic this year and the mood was celebratory. Volunteer drivers were chatting waiting to take people home. Three women visiting that morning had freshly applied henna to celebrate the engagement of one of the women meeting with us that morning. All of us also took a moment to celebrate with our Legal Clerk, Negar Ahmadi had just received word that her green card had been approved. 

For all of these things, we give thanks. Thank you for choosing to support Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors during the Big Payback. Your donations afford us the flexibility to address unforeseeable needs for the immigrant community like the Afghan evacuees who are building their new lives here.