By Piper Rutherford | Editor

Thanksgiving across all universities feeds 10,000 to 12,000 students each year, including the 1,3000 students classified as food insecure at Baylor with help from Share a meal campaign.

Maddie Whitmore, director of food insecurity programs for Baylor Eats, said meal donations at Baylor began a few years ago, after the Swipe Out Hunger Foundation launched a national movement for students to give back to their classmates who live food insecurity.

“How it works is that students can choose to donate their five guest gifts to the dining hall by letting our associates at the point of sale know how many you would like to donate,” Whitmore said. “It then happens behind the scenes in a big pot of meals.”

As for how these meals get to the accounts of students in need, Whitmore said food on campus officeThe Store, adds the number of swipes requested by a student to their ID card.

“Students can donate their swipes all year round; it’s not limited to the Thanksgiving season,” Whitmore said. “Events like these remind us how eating and sharing a meal with others is social. That’s why we use Thanksgiving across the university as a great incentive for students to share what they have with those less fortunate in their community. .”

Similarly, in DeLand, Fla., McKenzie Williams, co-chair of public relations for the Student Foundation, said this feeling of caring for family is deeply felt by All-University students. Thanksgivingespecially those who cannot return home during the holidays – such as international students or those who must stay in Waco for work – and gives students the opportunity to take a break and enjoy a nice meal with their friends and classmates. class.

“I remember going to every college Thanksgiving my freshman year,” Williams said. “That was the night I met my best friends and for the first time, Baylor truly felt like home.”

Many attendees at the 5-8:30 p.m. event Wednesday were greeted by Sebastian and Tabitha of Ogle Farms’ Slate Turkeys Petting Zoo before lining up to eat while waiting to fill their plates with smashed turkey. potatoes, pecan pie and Baylor’s signature dish, Dr. Pepper glazed ham.