A Thanksgiving dinner and program will be held for international students and their families Saturday.

The dinner has been a tradition for 17 years. It is sponsored by International Students Incorporated, Campus Crusade for Christ and area churches.

Melissa Jacobson, a field representative for International Students Incorporated and one of the coordinators for the event, said the dinner has grown in size each year and this year around 100 volunteers are involved.

“We start out with a dinner in American homes, and following that we have a program at a church about the meaning of Thanksgiving,” Jacobson said.

Twenty-eight homes in Ames and surrounding communities will host the 125 students and their children, which represent 20 countries.

The program, which will be held at the First Evangelical Free Church in Ames, will consist of a showcase of international talent, a roll call of nations, folk singing, a men’s quartet and a presentation on the history of Thanksgiving.

Jacobson said the event is a great opportunity for the students.

“For some of the students, this is their first opportunity to see an American home,” she said. “The students enjoy the experience, and just being in an American home is a pleasure for them.”

Some students also like to learn about the Thanksgiving holiday. Jacobson said that “the world is fascinated by Thanksgiving” because not many countries have a celebration like it.

She said it gives local families a unique opportunity.

“It is a great opportunity for Americans to share themselves, their homes and this special holiday,” Jacobson said.