2008 Year in Review

International Thanksgiving Fellowship Needs Host Families

International Thanksgiving Fellowship planners for Morrison need more local families to be part of this year's weekend, Nov. 26 to Nov. 30.

This is an annual opportunity for local families to welcome foreign students who are enrolled at Chicago area colleges, to this community for Thanksgiving.

In Morrison, Church Women United sponsor and fund the program, in cooperation with International House at the University of Chicago.

Host families meet the students as they arrive by bus Nov. 26, the evening before Thanksgiving Day.

On Thursday, guests share the hosts’ holiday traditions, and get acquainted. Students may be just learning to speak English confidently, if they come from non-English-speaking countries. By Sunday afternoon, when they return to Chicago by bus, most of the visitors will use more English more easily.

Plans for the program, a tradition since 1963, include a carry-in, supper Friday for all host families and their guests, as well as others in the community who are interested.

The organizers offer suggestions for "entertaining" visitors, but most important is learning to know more about each other, countries and cultures. All students smile at the promise that they will see the Mississippi River. Many of them enjoy an opportunity to bowl or roller-skate. Some like to go shopping. Conversations will lead to many other ideas- Experience indicates that the visitors are adaptable, curious and enthusiastic.

Other communities involved in the program include Geneseo, Paris, Prophets-town, Rockford and Sterling/Rock Falls.

Questions? Curious? Eager? There are host application forms at churches and newspapers, or call helpers, who include Janet Fisher, 772-7668; Ben Hollister, 772-4032; Diki Bull, 772-3610. Application date nears.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
November 10, 2008