This September, a family in Port Arthur will enjoy a special experience by welcoming into their home a high school exchange student from Belgium. This volunteer host family is participating in the SHARE! Student Exchange Program for the 2011-2012 school year. This international exchange student is eager to learn about how Americans live.

I am prompted to write an expression of enormous gratitude to the host family, the high school and community. As the Regional Director for this program, I have helped local coordinators find the host families and helped them select a student who best fits their family. Local coordinators and our regional office staff will supervise and monitor our families and exchange students throughout their stay.

There are still several outstanding candidates awaiting host families. If anyone has thought about hosting, now is an excellent time to start.  Please contact me as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity to SHARE! your heart and home with the rest of the world.

My thanks to the host family, their teachers and high school, and the members of the community for extending such a warm welcome to this exchange student who has chosen to travel thousands of miles away from family and friends to learn about our unique American culture.  The student will always remember the welcome that they received from the people in Port Arthur.

Sincerely,

Yvette Coffman

SHARE! Southwest Regional Director