UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Office of Student Leadership and Involvement is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive in collaboration with community partners.
Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI) encourages Penn State departments and student groups to participate in the drive, but individuals and community groups are also welcome to make their own basket. Each basket is meant to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to families who would not otherwise be able to afford one.
SLI, a unit of Student Affairs, will collect the baskets and distribute them to eight community partner organizations across State College, Philipsburg and Bellefonte:
-
AIDS Resource Alliance
-
Bellefonte Area School District
-
Park Forest Preschool
-
Centre Safe
-
Central Pa. Community Action
-
Interfaith Human Services
-
Youth Service Bureau
-
Pregnancy Resource Clinic
The partner organizations then distribute the baskets to families in need within their communities.
Those interested in creating a basket for the drive can sign up through the online form, which also contains a list of suggested basket items — including stuffing, instant mashed potatoes mix, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables and fruits, bread mixes and applesauce. Participants are also encouraged to include a $20 gift card to a local grocery store in the basket so that families can purchase a turkey.
Yana Harris — program coordinator for service and leadership in SLI — said SLI aims to donate around 150 baskets this year. This number was determined based on needs expressed by the partner organizations.
She added, however, that all baskets and donations are accepted. In the past, participants have donated canned goods or grocery store gift cards if they were unable to gather all of the elements of a basket.
“We don’t turn any basket away, even if it doesn’t have every single component, because the reality is someone is going to be thankful for whatever they get,” Harris said.
Harris said the partner organizations express appreciation and gratitude to the University for contributing to the cause.
“I think the campus is just, in many ways, giving and thoughtful,” Harris said. “I have people who have been asking me about Thanksgiving baskets since the summertime. The campus just gets really excited about helping others.”
Baskets can be dropped off at 131 HUB-Robeson Center on Nov. 17 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.