Welcome Picnic

When: 

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Event Time:

4:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: 

Maranatha Baptist Church

4663 Trabue Rd,

Columbus, OH 43228

The Welcome Picnic is an event to get international students and IFI volunteers together in a fun and nurturing setting.

We're honored to have the opportunity to connect with and serve our international friends.
We’d love for you to help us serve in the following ways:

Note: Help is needed  at 1:00 - 10:00pm. The event is starts 4:00pm - 8:00pm.

1.  Connect students with IFI

This event is to help students make friends with other students and American families with food and fun, and encourage awareness and involvement in IFI (for students and new volunteers).

  • Because we are expecting 300-450 students to attend this year, we need volunteers to bring food and desserts.
  • The Welcome Picnic is an opportunity for new international students to interact together and with their host. We ask that only those volunteers who are serving and/or bringing their (new) students attend.

2. Pick a Opportunity to Serve:

Most of these serving opportunities are 2-hour time commitments. Volunteers may do multiple shifts during the event. More details on these opportunities are available here.

  1. Pray with other IFI Volunteers and staff (1:30pm-2:30pm)
  2.  Bring food and/or dessert. (3:30pm-5:30pm)
  3.  Set up registration, serving areas and games. (1:00pm-4:00pm)
  4. Help at the food section. (3:30pm-8:00pm)
  5. Interact with students. (4:00pm-8:00pm)
  6. Help with children's activities (4:00pm-8:00pm)
  7. Provide transportation for students. (3:15pm-4:00pm and 8:00pm-8:45pm)
  8. Help clean up after the event. (8:00pm-9:30pm)
  9. Help with registration. (3:30pm-6:00pm)
  10. Load IFI's van and Offload at IFI's office (8:30pm-10:00pm)
  11. Take photos during event (4:00pm-8:00pm)

3. Donate or lend supplies:

We are in need of several supplies and decorations in order to make this a successful event. View our full wish list on Amazon by clicking here.

Major Needs include:

  • Water and drinks.
  • 15 pop up canopies
  • We need someone to grill hotdogs and burgers (200-250 of each).
  • A full propane tank to grill the food.
  • Lawn chairs and blankets to sit with students
  • Marshmallow sticks to make smores.
  • Water and drinks are really needed.
  • Eating utensils and supplies

Please mail/deliver any donated items to:

Attn: Tosan Otokuefor

International Friendships Inc Suite #200

1550 Old Henderson Road

Columbus, OH 43220

You can also donate funds to purchase items needed for this event here. If you choose to write a check, please write "Events" on the memo line. For more details, contact Tosan at .

The entire event will be outside. Indoor restrooms will be available
If you have questions, contact us at

IFI Welcome Picnic - Volunteer Registration

Registration is currently closed.

 

Please check back for updates, and look at our Upcoming Events page to learn about other volunteering opportunities.