Welcome Week 2026
ISI OUTREACH ON UVA GROUNDS IN LATE AUGUST
"Welcome Bags" are hand-sewn care packages for new international students.
About
God has given us a golden opportunity and it takes people like you to make it happen.
It all starts with meeting students and letting them know that we, the local families of Virginia, are glad to have them here! Nothing says this better and more easily than a beautiful care package.
"Welcome Bags" are hand-made for this occasion by a church in Roanoke. They are lovingly stuffed with free things by churches here in Charlottesville. All that is needed is YOU to help distribute these bags on UVA grounds.
Students that we meet are invited to a Welcome Picnic on the following Saturday in the UVA Gardens.
On Monday, August 24, we give out more Welcome Bags at a table in UVA's CIO fair, which features many different UVA student groups. Lots of new international students from many nations will meet us for the first time at the Club Fair Table (UVA's "Fall Activities Fair")
During all of our Welcome Week outreach efforts, we will invite international students to attend a Welcome Picnic with delicious food and a message by a UVA professor inviting them to explore the Bible (usually for the first time their lives!)
Dates
- 2026 Airport pickup from Dulles
August 15-19 - specific times, dates, and numbers TBD
August 16,18 these days are very likely to be the most important pickup days - Tuesday, August 18 - Welcome bag distribution
9:00am – 12:00pm meet in the courtyard between the UVA bookstore and Newcomb Hall
Parking under the UVA bookstore at the central grounds parking garage - Wednesday, August 19 - Welcome bag distribution
11:00am-2:00pm meet in the courtyard between the UVA bookstore and Newcomb Hall
Parking under the UVA bookstore at the central grounds parking garage
- Thursday, August 20 - Welcome bag distribution
12:00PM - 3:00PM meet in the courtyard between the UVA bookstore and Newcomb Hall
Parking under the UVA bookstore at the central grounds parking garage - Monday, August 24 - Welcome Bag Distribution
10AM-4PM "Welcome, International Students" Table at UVA student club fair. Probably located in the Ampitheater
1:00-3:00 PM Minor Hall - Saturday, August 29 - Welcome Picnic
Set-up starts at 1:30PM
Volunteers deliver food starting at 3:30PM
Student pickup at UVA at 4:00PM
Event ends by 7:30PM
Welcome Week is a UVA Grounds outreach project in late August. This year, Welcome Week involves Airport pickup, Welcome Bag distribution, and the Welcome Picnic. God has given us a golden opportunity and it takes people like you to make it happen.
Airport Pickup
We need your help running trips to pick up students from Dulles Airport during Welcome Week. Some of these trips may involve picking up 2 students. Others may involved working together to greet up to 10 newly arriving international students and transport them safely to UVA. These trips provide wonderful opportunities for conversation and help to facilitate ISI's connection with new students.
Welcome Bag Distribution
It all starts with meeting students and letting them know that we, the local families of Virginia, are glad to have them here! Nothing says this better and more easily than a beautiful care package. During international student arrivals, participants will go out into the streets of UVA to distribute Welcome Bags to international students. On the Monday following orientation week, help ISI run a booth at the UVA Activities Fair. "Welcome Bags" are hand-made for this occasion by a church in Roanoke. They are lovingly stuffed with free things by churches here in Charlottesville. All that is needed is YOU to help distribute these bags on UVA grounds. On the Monday before classes start, we give out more Welcome Bags at a table at UVA's CIO fair, which features many different UVA student groups. Lots of new international students from many nations will meet us for the first time at this table. Students that we meet are invited to the Welcome Picnic. The Activities Fair table needs to be staffed by ages 15 to 20-something. All ages can participate in all the other events. High school students are welcome to participate in any part of the Welcome Week outreach.
Welcome Picnic
On the first Saturday after classes start, we invite UVA international students to gather at a home in the country, where we enjoy an outdoor picnic together. We'll have games, speakers, and music. Volunteers bring a dish of food to share and help host the picnic. This event provides important opportunities for follow-up.
