Paragould, Ark. — As international student enrollment continues to grow, more local families are needed to serve as host homes in Paragould.
Students participating in the program attend schools such as Paragould High School and come to northeast Arkansas to experience American culture firsthand. However, the program currently faces a shortfall of host families and is seeking volunteers to meet the demand.
Linda Appling, regional supervisor for International Student Exchange (ISE) Northeast Arkansas, emphasized how hosting transcends offering a place to stay. Many families form long-lasting connections that extend well beyond the students’ time in the United States.
“They check on you. They make sure you’re doing okay,” Appling said. “Even though they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving back home, they’ll still call to say Happy Thanksgiving because they experienced it here and want to carry the tradition forward.”
Appling, who has personally hosted students since 2021, described the experience as enriching for both hosts and students, noting that she now considers herself part of an extended global family. “I’ve got kids all over—Brazil, Spain, France, Belgium—they keep in touch,” she said.
Families interested in hosting international students can apply by contacting ISE Northeast Arkansas at (870) 239-1098 or by messaging their Facebook page, “International Student Exchange-NEA.” The deadline to apply for hosting students in January is next Friday.
Participation is voluntary, but the program is offering $300 for each referral that results in a new host family.
For those looking to expand their cultural understanding and help students experience American life, becoming a host family offers a unique way to make a world of difference—right from home.