November 23 – Whether it’s “bienvenido” in Spanish or “byenvini” in Haitian Creole, Jonathan Burkey just wants you to feel “welcome.”
That’s why Burkey, the executive director of Compassionate Ministries of Lima and the pastor of Elm Street Church of the Nazarene, and the other organizers of the annual Thanksgiving Day dinner began advertising the annual community gathering in three languages.
He looks forward to welcoming exiles from violent Haiti who speak Haitian Creole, as well as any Spanish speakers who may be present. The annual event will take place on Thursday, November 28 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Veterans Memorial Civic Center in downtown Lima.
When they say everyone is welcome, they mean it.
“For me as a pastor, in some ways it’s a glimpse of the fullness of the kingdom of God,” Burkey said. “We would like to invite all countries here in the center of Lima for a party. It’s amazing, if you think about it. People from dozens of different countries come to a place to enjoy a meal and feel safe and warm. hope that’s what we offer to everyone on that day.”
The tradition of an all-are-welcome dinner started in Lima in the 1980s. Compassionate Ministries of Lima, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, took over leadership in 2020 following the pandemic. They expect to distribute 3,000 free meals at the Civic Center this year, along with a drive-through option at the Wingate Hotel. They will also provide some groceries and basic hygiene items, thanks in part to a partnership with the West Ohio Food Bank.
This year they decided to reach non-English speakers in Lima with a trilingual flyer in the city and online. Burkey expects several hundred Haitian immigrants and several hundred more Spanish speakers this year.
“We’re trying to make sure that the people who speak Spanish and Haitian Creole are aware of the meal and feel part of the community,” Burkey said.
A Haitian congregation meets every Sunday at 2 p.m. at Burkey’s Elm Street Church of the Nazarene, so he knows there is a need.
Burkey said Lima has a reputation as an “incredibly welcoming city” along the Interstate 75 corridor. While some are stoking fear and distrust of the immigrants, Burkey sees others with their arms outstretched.
“We currently have a mayor (Sharetta Smith) who has invested in making people feel welcome and embracing them,” Burkey said. “There are many pastors in the city and priests who also feel that call, to make people feel welcome.”
One challenge is bridging the language barrier. Translators will be on hand to help this year. The organizers are also working to teach some basic words in all three languages, such as ‘welcome’ and ‘hello’, so that everyone can feel included in their native language.
The event gets easier and easier to plan every year, Burkey said. As mentioned, dedicated volunteers know how to perform their duties well. There were still a handful of volunteer sign-up spots, and people can sign up at elmstreet.church/thanksgiving.
“I just feel like it’s part of a bigger movement in Lima, of people wanting to be hospitable,” Burkey said. “We want to make sure they don’t feel like outsiders. We have to let everyone be insiders.”
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See previous columns by David Trinko at LimaOhio.com/tag/trinko.
David Trinko is editor of The Lima News. Reach him at 567-242-0467, by email at dtrinko@limanews.com or on Twitter/X @Lima_Trinko.
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