Global cuisines represent diversity at local church

A sampling of different sounds and tastes of the world came to Bloomington on Saturday afternoon.

Tables of families, locals and students gathered outside the Bloomington United Presbyterian Church as people feasted on a variety of different ethnic foods at the church’s ninth annual UPC Ethnic Food Fair. Music provided by DJ Joe Loop floated through the air, including both Top 40 hits and ethnic music from different countries.
“The idea was to show Bloomington we have about nine different nationalities in this church,” Alejandra Haddad, Bloomington resident and United Presbyterian Church volunteer said, “and we just wanted to show them our culture.”

United Presbyterian Church pastor David Bremer said the International Christian Fellowship started the food fair and expanded it by inviting other volunteers in the church to participate. 

“It’s very racially and ethnically diverse,” Allen Pease, Ethnic Food Fair co-chair, said of the church.

Pease said the purpose of the fair was to exhibit the diversity of the church and provide fun and fellowship. In addition, it exposes children to people of different backgrounds.
“What it does is acculturate the people of Bloomington to the world,” Bremer said. “And because of that, barriers are broken down.”

A wide assortment of food was offered at the fair. Tables of autumnally colored dishes lined the fellowship hall in the church, with flags from around the world hanging from the ceiling. Dishes included tapas and frijoles from Columbia, hummus and couscous from the Middle East, bulgogi and jabchai from Korea, lasagna from Italy, bumba bali from Indonesia and much more. 

“It’s all homemade ethnic food,” Pease said. “Our congregation and friends of our congregation donate the food, and it’s all lovingly made by natives or descendents of the country.” 

Proceeds from the event benefit UPC’s International Christian Fellowship Program. The program helps improve the language skills of people who speak English as a second language, Pease said. It will also help to re-establish a biweekly Christian fellowship get-together and organize Wednesday night Bible studies geared toward people who speak English as a second language. 

While adults socialized and enjoyed authentic ethnic food, children had the opportunity to participate in arts and crafts. Crafts included making friendship bracelets and hats out of newspaper. In past years, games were provided, but Karen Like, co-chair of children’s games, said by choosing crafts instead, children of all ages could enjoy the activities. 

“I’ve been coming out every year with my family, and it’s a really good experience,” said 14-year-old Bloomington resident Erin McNeil. “And we love ethnic food.”
Most attendees thought the food was the highlight of the event.

“It’s really good,” said Bloomington Resident Leigh Brightbill. “It’s all homemade.”
The turnout was as diverse as the choices of food in that people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds were in attendance.

“It’s what Bloomington is,” Bloomington resident Terry Padke said. “Bloomington is diversity.”