College students look forward to a home-cooked meal with family on Thanksgiving, but not everyone is able to enjoy the holiday with loved ones. International students and domestic students who live far away are often stuck on campus.
Members of Coffeyville First United Methodist Church in Kansas partner with the community college next door to make sure students enjoy a hot meal and fellowship on Thanksgiving Day. For some international students, this is a first experience with the traditions of this U.S. holiday. Lilla Marigza has the story.
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Coffeyville First United Methodist Church hosts students for social events throughout the year. Karen Ririe is the international student coordinator at Coffeyville Community College and she’s a member of Oak Park United Methodist Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Ririe says international students especially enjoy the open doors at nearby Coffeyville First United Methodist Church.
“I’m thankful for this church that not only opens their doors to let the kids come in here, but the people here have opened their hearts to these kids and have really taken an interest in their well-being — in their spiritual well-being, in their physical well-being — and it’s just been a beautiful thing.”
For more information on ministries for students, check out Coffeyville First United Methodist Church in Kansas on Facebook.
Marigza is a multimedia producer for UM News. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umnews.org. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.
