By Katie Gager, Student Reporter
The doors opened, and hundreds of people poured into the Hunter Welcome Center as the International Students’ Association conducted its annual Food Festival and Fashion Show on March 28.
Event organizers planned for 300 people to attend. They said they were overwhelmed when almost 400 people showed up. The event raised more than $1,500, which went to Eternal Threads, a local justice mission that provides jobs and opportunities for women in five countries.
“It went far better than I thought it would,” said Laza Razafimanjato (’08), who organized the event. “The food festival part was very organized, and we were able to serve more food than we ever thought we could.”
Twenty-five student groups prepared dishes from at least 19 different cultures. Razafimanjato said he was reminded of the story in the Bible when Jesus fed 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish.
“We saw the size of the line, and we thought we wouldn’t have enough food,” he said. “However, in the end, we still had food left over.”
Students who attended the event said they were impressed with the food and the organization throughout the evening. Sarah Brooks, senior marketing major from Memphis, Tenn., said she had no idea the event would be so big and loved all of the food. Other students said they recognized the unique opportunity of sharing and learning about different cultures. “It’s a neat way to learn about all the different cultures we have on campus,” said attendee Sarah Whitworth, sophomore psychology major from Houston.
She said it was great they work with Eternal Threads; she loves purchasing things from them because she knows it is going to a good cause.
Sue Garcia, Eternal Threads’ office manager and director of operations, attended the event; set up a booth selling the organization’s products and provided those interested with more information about Eternal Threads. She said she enjoyed seeing what ISA did to promote Eternal Threads.
A lot of fun has occurred while working together with the students, Garcia said.
“They have been very creative, and their enthusiasm is overwhelming,” she said. “I hope that those who attended have become more aware of Eternal Threads and what our mission is about.”
Organizers said the fashion show, a new aspect of the Food Festival that was added this year, also was a success and created entertainment for the night. The show included 35 models who displayed products and accessories sponsored and sold by Eternal Threads.
“I was really excited about being able to help,” said show model Teal Patterson, senior communication major from Austin. “I hope that those who attended learn that there are many, many different faces of beauty and it is not contained in one culture, one ethnicity or one skin tone.”
While the event at times was hard work, it proved to be a blessing, Razafimanjato said.
“I thank everyone that was a part of it,” he said. “It shows that if you work hard and people come together, anything is possible.”
The doors opened, and hundreds of people poured into the Hunter Welcome Center as the International Students’ Association conducted its annual Food Festival and Fashion Show on March 28.
