Foods and history of Thanksgiving served at dinner for international students

By: Linda Hanes

In early fall 2005, Reverend Ron De Young, campus pastor at Kanley Chapel on Western Michigan University’s main campus, and Maran Subramain, who was then a graduate student working for WMU’s International Student Activities office, sat down at a coffee shop for what they thought would be a quick conversation between friends.

Kanley Chapel had already been hosting weekly international student luncheons, but Subramain had been thinking about working with De Young to offer a meal that aligned with a United States’ holiday. They came up with the idea of hosting an American Thanksgiving Celebration for international students, where students could learn about the holiday’s history and enjoy a traditional turkey dinner.

De Young, has worked at Kanley Chapel for more than 18 years, and has served 17 years as leader of its International Student Fellowship group. Even though Subramain has now graduated and moved on, De Young and the chapel plan to carry on with the ministry and meals for international students. “The thing I enjoy the most is sitting down with students,” De Young said. “My goal is to learn as much from students as they can possibly learn from me.”

Showing warm hospitality and respect are what De Young considers to be the most important pillars of the fellowship. He helps international students make the transition into studying on an American campus by facilitating opportunities for them to practice their English skills, inviting them into area family homes, and hosting the weekly luncheons held at the chapel every Thursday from noon to 2 p.m.  

“The key is that we are very concerned that students are treated with dignity and respect in every way; we want students to feel at home and like they belong,” De Young said. “They appreciate the hospitality and our concern.”

He credits much of the success of his various programs to his wife and other volunteers. For the most part, he relies on donations from various bakeries and churches to feed the students at these weekly lunch meetings. “If a church is not able to provide all the food for a luncheon, my wife and I pitch in what is needed,” he said.

True to their passion of helping others, it is only natural that Subramain and De Young have poured their heart and soul into the Thanksgiving celebration as it has grown over the past few years. The event begins with a student leader introducing the dinner and explaining a few interesting facts about Thanksgiving traditions. The attendees then enjoy a typical American Thanksgiving feast, or a vegetarian option, plus pies for dessert. Placemats on the dining tables include more holiday facts, and volunteers are available in the dining room to answer questions. De Young said that the students are always very interested and often want to take the literature home as a memento.

Attracting new volunteers is essential for De Young to keep the ministry alive and he welcomes inquiries (see contact info at end of story). But, he is selective about who gets a chance to serve, to ensure they will follow the fellowship’s main principles of service. “The only volunteers that we accept are those who we believe treat international students with respect and help them in a manner that demonstrates hospitality and care” he said. “Our goals complement the University’s goals for international students”

Events hosted by the International Student Fellowship group are open to people of all cultures and beliefs. “Our events are all about giving students an extra boost and making them feel more at home in the WMU community,” De Young said. “The Thanksgiving dinner is a very pleasant event for international students, and it is so rewarding for me and the volunteers to have the chance to meet them.

Contact De Young at:  @email