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
Easter (April 5)
Thanksgiving (November)
Christmas (December)
Our Next Event
Easter – April 5, 2026
Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The date of Easter changes each year. It is observed on the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox (March 21).
On Easter, families and friends often gather to share a special meal together. Many also attend church to worship God and to remember and celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
If you would like to be invited to share a meal with a local American family for Easter, please find your city in the “Get Involved” section and register.
