International Student Committee to meet Nov. 17 to plan 2015 outreach

The mission of the International Student Outreach Program is to work in the greater Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach areas to create a hospitable community that welcomes and provides a safe environment for international students by offering meals, transportation, emergency assistance and fellowship. Led by the Lewes-Rehoboth Association of Churches, local chambers of commerce, businesses and residents, ISOP is a faith-based initiative open to all volunteers.

ISOP volunteers met recently to review how they fulfilled their mission this summer. Ida Abell, the U.S. State Department lead program analyst for the J-1 Visa program, attended the meeting.  Abell said the total number of students in Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey was approximately 650. The five countries that were most represented were Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In all, students from 32 countries came to the area this summer.

While they were here, the students were well fed. Free dinners were available to them at different churches four nights each week. They were New Covenant Presbyterian on Monday, Epworth United Methodist on Tuesday, St. Edmond Catholic on Wednesday and Lutheran Church of Our Savior on Thursday. While numbers of attendees fluctuated each night, they ranged from mid-50 in the early summer to nearly 150 during the peak summer weeks.

The number of dinners served during the whole summer by all four churches was 4,235. In addition, students attended the Sunday Soup Kitchen at Epworth. An undertaking of this size could only be accomplished with large numbers of dedicated volunteers, the support of the church communities, and a number of businesses who made donations of food for which ISOP is very grateful. They include Chipotle, Fifer Orchards, Giant, Panera Bread, Safeway and Wawa.

The J-1 Visa program is intended to facilitate cultural exchange. To that end, three bus trips were arranged by New Covenant Presbyterian Church. They went to Washington, D.C.; Six Flags Amusement Park and the Amish community in Lancaster, Pa. The trips were well attended and may include another destination next summer.

The bicycle program lent 150 donated bikes to students. Bike repairs were made at the dinners or whenever a student emailed for help with a bike problem. This led to some interesting emails, such as “my wheel has surrendered” and “my pedals are lazy.” Tires and parts were purchased with a donation from St. Edmond's Church. Most of the bikes have been returned but 20 bikes were stolen. Kmart offered discounts on new bikes when all of the donated bikes were distributed, and Bike To Go discounted parts and repairs.

Students were required to take a DelDOT safety class and a supervised ride with Rehoboth police before they were given bikes. Free helmets were available at the class, and at bicycle checkpoints throughout the summer, but very few students agreed to wear them.

Safety is a primary concern but impossible to guarantee given the amount of traffic on Coastal Highway, combined with the speed and the mix of cars, trucks, buses and scooters. Sadly, on Aug. 21 a female student from Romania was involved in a serious accident and remains hospitalized. She worked at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, whose members generously donated money toward her expenses. The international students also helped by holding a fundraiser at Cape Henlopen State Park. Donations can be made by check payable to Andreea Roman c/o Community Bank Delaware, P.O. Box 742, Lewes, DE 19958.

The ISOP committee will meet again Monday, Nov. 17, to look ahead to next summer. Eventually, members hope to meet with the many business owners who employ J-1 students and the sponsoring agencies who arrange visas, employment and housing for students.