Voorhees is one of the most culturally diverse municipalities in the county.
It is for that reason Voorhees Township Citizen’s Cultural and Diversity Advisory Committee is sponsoring International Day on Oct. 15.
The day is a community-wide celebration of national and ethnic diversity held at St. Andrew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 27 Kresson/Gibbsboro Road, Gibbsboro from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
This special event is co-sponsored by the Camden County Board of Freeholders.
The goal of the evening is to promote understanding, appreciation and acceptance of each other’s cultural and ethnic differences.
“This is an opportunity for citizens from our region to come and learn about some of the different nations and cultures represented in the population of Camden County, taste the foods from area restaurants, and see entertainment by local cultural groups,” Gwen DeVera, chair of the International Day Committee, said.
There will be booths representing nations from around the world, presented by people who are now citizens of Camden County.
DeVera, vice chair of the Voorhees Township Citizen’s Cultural and Diversity Advisory Committee, said the annual event started several years ago.
“It is very important because Voorhees and Camden County is a very diverse community,” DeVera, from the Philippines, said. “And we would like to showcase our cultures, our food and experience coming to America.”
She said the day is aimed at creating unity while accepting the cultural differences.
Habib Quraishi, member of diversity committee, said the event was originally held at night but was changed to daytime to accommodate the elderly.
Stephanie Fisher, chair of the diversity committee, said she hopes people take away a better understanding of others, especially because of the backdrop of war and hatred in the world.
“It’s to bring people together from different backgrounds, different cultures and different ethnicities,” Fisher said. “This way we will get a chance to understand and appreciate those who are not the same as we are.
“This way we get to know people who are not like us but really they are like us and we get to understand their differences and we’re able to compare theirs with ours,” she added.
Voorhees Mayor Michael Mignogna said the diversity committee educates residents and government figures about other cultures.
“International Day is an opportunity for our residents to experience those differences and celebrate those differences,” he said. “Voorhees was the first municipality in Camden County to establish a cultural and diversity advisory committee [and] we’re very proud of that committee.
“I believe that we should recognize our differences and celebrate our differences until differences make no difference at all,” Mignogna added.
The admission, exhibits, entertainment and food sampling are all free.
For questions, please call Gwen DeVera at 856–751–1364, Stephanie Fisher at 609–841–2727, or Habib Quraishi at 856–768–5740.
