As many students have heard already, especially those participating in clubs, on Oct. 19 there will be a potluck meal geared towards raising money for Syrian refugees living in a UNHCR Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan. The idea stemmed from the Model United Nations club at Wheaton, specifically Julian Spector ’14.
The money raised will be sent to the Zaatari Refugee Camp, the largest refugee camp in Jordan, which is home to an estimated 144,000 refugees. The potluck itself is still a work in progress, but those involved in the project have high hopes for it.
Ideally, Model U.N. wishes to have around 600 students attend the event. They plan to secure several performances for the students that are sure to be entertaining. Student groups like iSpeak, one of the a capella groups,and several student bands have already confirmed that they will be performing. A variety of clubs and houses have been working together to provide a variety of cultural foods for the event.
Other than Model U.N., clubs involved in the potluck include J Street, Aftertaste, Interfaith Alliance, Middle East Club, Latino Student Association and Amnesty International. The houses taking part include Davis House, Ecco House, T.W.A.P. House, Peace House, B.E.A.R.S. House, Outdoors House, and Renaissance House.
Freshmen may be especially motivated to go, as the organizers of the potluck have gotten in touch with some of the First Year Seminar professors, requesting extra credit for their students should for attendance. The potluck is sure to be a fun event, and others will benefit from students’ efforts to support refugees. Spector says that ideally, he would like to encourage athletes to take part as well, considering that a large number of clubs and the students involved in them are already taking part.
The potluck is still a work in progress, and although it is sure to be promising, some decisions are yet to be made. Two of the most pressing matters are a name for the event and a location to hold it in. It has been difficult for the event’s planners to find a weather-friendly space that can hold the expected number of attendees. Tickets will be $5 per person and sold ahead of time and at the door.