Connecting International Students with Friendly AMERICANS
Friends For DinnerWelcome to Friends for Dinner! We are a hospitality program that brings International Students into the homes of friendly Americans for a tasty meal during the traditional holidays of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
About Us
What is Friends for Dinner?
Friends for Dinner is a collaboration between local churches and Christian student organizations to connect friendly Americans with international students in order to show them hospitality and build friendships.
We understand that international students coming to the U.S. will have many new and exciting experiences as they study and live in a new culture. Yet leaving home to live in a foreign country can also leave them feeling disoriented, lonely and homesick.
In 2012, a small team of volunteers in Ottawa, Canada came together with a vision to help church families befriend international students at local colleges and universities by inviting them into their homes during the traditional holidays of Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Since then, Friends for Dinner has hosted hundreds of international students and has spread to other cities across Canada. It is now in the U.S., Australia, and Germany.
How Does It Work?
You Register
For both Students and Hosts, it only takes a few minutes to fill in a registration form. Select the appropriate section below to get started.
We Match
We will carefully match registered students and hosts together. Matching is based on location, available dates, and other preferences. We will then send the contact info to both students and hosts.
Enjoy Your Meal!
The host will contact their international student guests to invite them to their home. All that remains is to enjoy your meal together and begin a friendship!
How Do I
Get Involved?
How To Participate
Select the option below and let us know if you are an international student or are interested in becoming a host
Upcoming Events
Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026)
Christmas (December 25, 2026)
Easter (March 28, 2027)
Our Next Event
Thanksgiving – November 26, 2026
Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays in the United States. It is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November. It is a day to stop and give thanks for the good things in our lives: family, friends, food, and the many blessings God has given us.
The holiday traces back to 1621, when the Pilgrims, who had come to America from England, shared a harvest meal with the Wampanoag people, who had helped them survive their first difficult year. Later, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday.
On Thanksgiving, families and friends gather for a large meal together. Traditional foods include roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Many people also go around the table and share something they are thankful for. Some enjoy watching parades or American football on TV.
For many Americans, Thanksgiving is about more than the food. It is about being together and welcoming others to the table, especially those who are far from home.
If you would like to share a Thanksgiving meal with a local American family, please find your city in the “Get Involved” section and register.
