Bethlehem, Pa., November 20, 2014—For the 16th consecutive year, Moravian College will host a holiday luncheon for residents of Bethlehem who might otherwise not be able to enjoy a seasonal meal. On Saturday, November 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Moravian College volunteers will provide a festive meal and fun activities at the Church of the Nativity, located on Bethlehem's south side. The annual event provides a hot meal and small gifts for local families in collaboration with local community service organizations and is an example of the integral role that the College’s Center for Leadership and Service plays in maintaining mutually-beneficial community partnerships.

“By sharing a time of food, crafts, presents, and caroling with local families, we demonstrate to the Bethlehem community that we care about our neighbors and families,” said Kate Cohen ’13, interim coordinator for leadership development and community service at Moravian College. “Beyond the span of our two-hour lunch, the event demonstrates the traditional Moravian values of community caring and philanthropy that leaves a lasting impression of kindness with the families we serve," Cohen continued. "Our annual community meal provides an opportunity to the Moravian College community to give back to the community, learn about our neighbors, and continue the Moravian tradition of civic engagement.”

Brenna Kepner ’16, the poverty programs coordinator at Moravian’s Center for Leadership and Service is the student coordinator for the event. She is recruiting volunteers, including faculty members and staff, to help with crafts, serving meals, and other tasks. “Hopefully this number reaches around 40-50 volunteers as it has in the past,” she said. “Our volunteers will be setting up, serving food, greeting, entertaining, and interacting with guests and their children.”

For each of the last 15 years, a number of Moravian College’s faculty members, staff, and students have volunteered to help serve a traditional holiday dinner of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots, cake, and pie. Moravian College continues its partnership with social services agencies to provide outreach to residents of Bethlehem that would benefit from some holiday spirit and a nutritious hot meal. Cathedral Church is providing the site and Moravian College is providing the food and volunteers for the lunch.

Tickets to the holiday luncheon are distributed to needy families in the community by New Bethany Ministries, Victory House, Trinity Episcopal Church, Fountain Hill School Family Center, Fowler Family Center, Turning Point, and Clearview Elementary School Family Center. The Cathedral Church of the Nativity is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at Wyandotte Street/Route 378 on south end of Hill-to-Hill Bridge in Sayre Hall.

Moravian College is a private coeducational liberal arts college, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, Moravian is recognized as America's sixth-oldest college and the first to educate women.

The College emphasizes the deliberate integration of a broad-based liberal arts curriculum with hands-on learning experiences to prepare its 1,600 students, not just for jobs, but for successful careers. Moravian College excels at transforming good students into highly competent graduates who are ready to enter the workplace with confidence or shine in graduate school. Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.