SGA will donate over 40 Thanksgiving baskets to needy Boone families on Nov. 21. The program, which started over 30 years ago, helps support students and their families who may have gone without a meal on Thanksgiving.
Using donations from the annual Kiss The Pig fundraiser hosted two months prior, the student government fills baskets full of traditional Thanksgiving food like mashed potatoes, stuffing, canned beans, a frozen pie and a voucher for a frozen turkey. The organization then distributes the baskets after school directly to the families.
“It’s heartwarming to see just how thankful these struggling families are to have a decent meal for the holiday,” SGA sponsor Jennifer Hines said.
To determine needy families, SGA contacts guidance counselors who help struggling students on a regular basis. The organization also takes suggestions from parents and teachers that have strong relationships with struggling families in the community.
While the main objective of the donation lies in supporting needy families on campus, the activity also shows the students in SGA the effects of their charity and support. Donating canned goods to a food pantry is one thing, but getting the opportunity to meet the people they are feeding helps the students better connect with the community.
“I love service projects, and giving to others in this way helps me understand how my efforts impact the community,” sophomore Ashley Bell said.