The local nonprofit offers free ESL, computer and citizenship preparation classes, as well as provides a sense of community
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
On Feb. 1, 1999, the Rev. Sturgis Poorman Jr. offered to teach an ESL class to eight immigrants in Langhorne. A Presbyterian pastor with the now-defunct Lower Bucks Center for Church and Community, Poorman felt called to work with this growing population. There was a need. Many individuals and families from around the world were coming to Bucks County, but few knew where to turn for support in their new home.
All Poorman wanted to do was eliminate some stress and fear. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that, one day, his simple act of kindness would flourish into the thriving nonprofit widely known today as Welcoming the Stranger.
Currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, the organization has served more than 4,000 people hailing from 104 different countries, offering free ESL, citizenship preparation and computer classes throughout Bucks, Montgomery and Hunterdon counties.
According to Meg Eubank, Welcoming the Stranger’s executive director, marking this milestone is bittersweet. On the one hand, 2019 will be chock-full of events, fundraisers and other initiatives to bring students, teachers and community members together. But at the same time, the man who started it all won’t be joining in the festivities.
In September 2018, Poorman, who was in his early 70s, passed away. Though he had retired from Welcoming the Stranger in 2015, the year Eubank stepped in, he was never far away.
“Up until his death, Sturgis continued to serve on our board. He taught two classes, still worked with refugee resettlement and worked with his church. He taught his ESL class and then the next day, he had a stroke. He really worked up until the end,” Eubank said. “It was very sudden because he was very active. He played basketball, even in his 70s. He walked everywhere. So it was highly unexpected, and we were all really shocked by it.”
As Welcoming the Stranger continues to cope with Poorman’s death, staff and volunteers are ensuring his legacy lives on by hosting a year-long anniversary celebration in his memory. First on the schedule is a 20/20 challenge, which is taking place throughout February. The micro-fundraiser is tasking 20 people to tell 20 of their friends about the organization.
“The idea is that, if everybody gives a little bit, it amounts to a lot in the end,” Eubank said. “And that’s sort of the whole crux of Welcoming the Stranger. It’s people coming together.”
Despite only having one full-time staff member (Eubank), a handful of part-time workers and dozens of volunteers, Welcoming the Stranger accepted 959 student enrollments in 2018.
“That’s a lot of people we were able to help by all working together and chipping in,” she said.
In March, the nonprofit will release a student-written cookbook and host a food sampling event hosted by Linda Kenyon, who portrays Julia Child in a one-woman show. The exact date is to be determined. Also in the spring, locals can vote for Welcoming the Stranger in four categories for the 2019 Bucks Happening List, including best charity and foodie event.
On July 7, students, teachers and community members are invited to Painting with a Twist in Richboro to enjoy each other’s company while creating a masterpiece and munching on snacks.
The celebration continues in October with Welcoming the Stranger’s annual international dinner, which Eubank said usually attracts 300 attendees. The event is a massive potluck, for which students prepare favorite dishes from their respective countries.
“You’re mixed and mingled with people from all over the world,” Eubank said.
In addition to a smorgasbord of food, the dinner features student testimonials, music and dancing, prizes and auctions.
More events will be announced throughout the year, including supply drives to benefit the classes. In addition, stories of current and past students will be shared on Welcoming the Stranger’s website and various social media platforms. Each will showcase how the organization has created a family that lives up to its namesake, the Biblical passage Matthew 25:35 — “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
All of Welcoming the Stranger’s classes, explained Eubank, are customized to meet the unique needs of immigrants. Students register for the location closest to them, whether it’s Bensalem, Warminster, Levittown, or a slew of other areas. They’re then enrolled with participants of all levels. While some are in the early stages of learning English, others have been attending for a decade, simply wishing to enhance their skills.
Each class has several volunteer teachers, who divide everyone into smaller groups based on skills and goals. The instructors give each student individualized attention and together, brainstorm customized lesson plans. Welcoming the Stranger runs three terms, and those interested can join at any time.
“We don’t really use a set curriculum. It depends on who is in the class that term and what they need,” Eubank said. “That’s what we’re all about — building that support system so you can figure out how to do things.”
In Eubank’s opinion, Poorman would be proud of how Welcoming the Stranger is continuing to grow, even after his passing. Not only does the organization provide education and resources, it helps facilitate a sense of friendship and community.
“His memory is living on and he’s telling his story,” she said. ••
Visit WelcomingTheStranger.org for information.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
