Over 200 people attended River Crossing YMCA’s annual Welcoming Week International Potluck at the Easton branch Sept. 20. The event featured foods and entertainment from over 16 nations, including contributions from Y members and vendors from around the community.

Welcoming Week is an initiative of Welcoming America, welcomingamerica.org/initiatives/welcoming-week, which takes place every year the first full week in September. As a partner of Welcoming America, YMCAs across the United States reach out to their local immigrant communities to ensure they know they have a safe, welcoming place at the Y.

“It was so pleasant to gather at the YMCA and celebrate our community and its colorful cultural aspect and diversity,” said YMCA member Yaser Khalifa. “The evening was full of conversations, getting to know new neighbors, tasting lovely dishes from all over the world and enjoying the dancing activities.”

Cultures represented by members and local food vendors included China, Iraq, Israel, Puerto Rico, Nigeria, Turkey, Peru, Lebanon, Egypt, Italy, Austria, India, Greece, the U.S., Thailand and France. Local restaurants Daddy’s Place and Clove Indian Restaurant donated trays of food for the event as well.

Latin and Zumba dancing was led by YMCA instructors Sam Bonilla and Melike Ayan, respectively, and Carmen Garrison capped off the evening with interactive belly dancing. Also represented at the potluck were Project Easton and Easton’s Cops n’ Kids.

“The Y community in Easton is so rich with international culture, it was an obvious choice for holding our first Welcoming Week potluck as River Crossing YMCA,” explained Sarah Wassel, senior program director of the Easton branch and one of the organizers of the event. “We are so proud to have been able to bring everyone together to demonstrate how the YMCA is really here for all of us.” Greater Valley YMCA joined with YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties in July to become River Crossing YMCA.

Welcoming Week lobby displays and activities took place Sept. 13-20 at River Crossing YMCA branches in Allentown, Bethlehem, Doylestown, Easton, Fairless Hills, Nazareth, Newtown, Quakertown, Slate Belt (Pen Argyl), Suburban North (Catasauqua) and Warminster, in PA, and at the Deer Path branch in Flemington, NJ. Each of these YMCA Welcome Centers featured family activities and a large world map where members and visitors were invited to share their national or international place of origin.

River Crossing YMCA (formerly YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties and Greater Valley YMCA) is a charitable nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all. Annually, the Y serves over 142,000 members and participants at its 12 member branches, 13 early childhood centers, 20 summer camp locations and 37 school age child care programs. River Crossing YMCA provides over $12 million of community impact annually in the form of financial assistance to individuals and families in need and free programming for veterans, cancer survivors, older adults and more. To learn more visit ymcarivercrossing.org.