(Pacer Graphic/Ryleigh Ulen)
Thanksgiving is a holiday that brings family and friends together.
Most people typically have a feast that features a turkey or ham with many sides, such as mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls and mac and cheese. Unfortunately, there are many people who cannot afford to have a Thanksgiving Day feast.
Many people and organizations collect canned and boxed foods to help people in need. One of the things the UT Martin does to help is accept donations in the Paul Meek Library. The library collects these goods throughout the month of November, ending on the Nov. 25. They recommend people bring items such as canned tuna, fruit and peanut butter, all of which can be purchased at your local grocery store. These canned goods help out many people, including UT Martin student Nick Carpenter.
“It’s nice to have help with meals and snacks when we still end up struggling most months,” Carpenter said.
Sodexo will also participate in Thanksgiving activities with a Friendsgiving event held for students to attend. It will cost one meal swipe, or you can pay at the register.
“I think Friendsgiving is a wonderful tradition that highlights community, creativity and the effort Sodexo puts into making campus feel like home,” Lauren Laws said, a marketing intern for Sodexo.
Many companies in Martin also cook meals for people to purchase. Blake’s at Southern Milling offers many different options of meat, sides and desserts, which can cost from $18-$75. You can preorder your meal at Blake’s now.
The Hearth, another restaurant in Martin, will also orders for Thanksgiving; the last day to get orders in is Nov. 24. The Hearth will also be open on Thanksgiving Day and will have a Thanksgiving buffet, which includes many different meats, sides and desserts. The Hearth will also host a Thanksgiving paint party on Nov. 25 at 6:00pm. The cost is $35 and includes a $5 meal credit, cupcakes and photo coverage. Reserve your spot now, as they fill up quickly.
Northwest TN Rock Bottom Recovery and Ministry will also serve a free thanksgiving dinner and give out food boxes on Nov. 22.
There are many options of where you can get a thanksgiving meal and many places you can donate to help provide food for people in need. These are just a few of the many options.
