September 20, 2023
Over 200 people attended the YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties’ inaugural Welcoming Week International Potluck at the Quakertown branch on Friday, September 8. The event featured foods and entertainment from over 17 nations, including contributions from Y members and vendors from around the community.
Welcoming Week is an initiative of Welcoming America, which takes place every year the first full week in September. As a partner of Welcoming America, YMCAs across the U.S. reach out to local immigrant communities to ensure they know they have a safe, welcoming place at the Y. Although YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties participates in Welcoming Week every year, this marked the first international potluck-style event inside one of its branches.
“It was a great experience,” said Roberto Vinces, who provided samples of freshly brewed Peruvian coffee from Carvin Foods at the potluck. “It was great to see so many cultures united at the YMCA, especially in Quakertown, where the community is very diverse. We all tried different foods and everyone seemed to have a very nice time.”
Cultures represented by members and local food vendors included Poland, Ukraine, Tunisia, China, India, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Romania, Greece, Italy, Morocco, El Salvador, the Cherokee Nation, Philippines and Serbia. Along with Carvin Foods, local restaurants Dominick’s Pizza, Green Chile, Mi Rancho Authentic Mexican Cuisine and C&C Confections donated trays of food for the event as well. Middle-Eastern and Polynesian dancing was provided by local dance troupe Tehani, and YMCA members Marco and Ayne Delgado danced Mariachi in full regalia.
“The Y community in Quakertown is so rich with international culture, it was an obvious choice to hold our first annual Welcoming Week potluck,” explained Tara Walsh, YMCA membership specialist 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.”
Welcoming Week lobby displays and activities took place through September 17 at YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties branches in Doylestown, Warminster, Quakertown and Fairless Hills in PA, and at the Deer Path branch in Flemington, NJ. Each of these YMCA Welcome Centers featured decorative international flags, sample family activities, and a large world map where members and visitors were invited to share their national or international place of origin.