What do you get when you combine 325 students from around the world, a garage full of furniture and the largest potluck you’ve ever seen? An amazing glimpse of God’s heart for the nations! Last Saturday, Washington University’s International Friends chapter partnered with other ministries to sponsor their 11th annual Furniture Giveaway. They filled a campus parking garage with donated furniture and household items which were then raffled off to new international students and delivered to their homes by an army of truck-driving volunteers.
Many of these students arrived in the US within the last week with only a couple of suitcases. One student grinned remembering how that morning she was sad that her apartment was so empty, but after winning three chairs and a cabinet, she couldn’t wait to get home and decorate. This year, staff Brenden Graczak also had the inspiration to find volunteers to make veggie and chicken dishes for lunch since many Hindu and Muslim students haven’t been able to partake of hot dogs served in past years. Amazingly, all the students and volunteers ate from the international buffet and there was food to spare. Even more exciting, were the friendships begun that will continue to give opportunities to share God’s love with these new students throughout the year.