By Jennifer K. Morita

November 21, 2024

The Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Food Pantry will host a Friendsgiving Feast on Nov. 25 for Sacramento State students in need of a hot holiday meal complete with all the traditional fixings.

ASI is raising money to serve the high-quality, nutritious meal and stock the Food Pantry with holiday essentials for students experiencing food insecurity.

“Financially, students are struggling to live day to day and go to college and meet other family responsibilities. We’re hoping this small gathering will help students stay connected with the University and the resources we can provide." -- Sommer Hayes, ASI Food Pantry manager

Food Pantry officials decided to transform the organization’s annual Thanksgiving food baskets into a warm, vibrant community gathering to better meet students’ needs, said pantry Manager Sommer Hayes.

“It came from conversations with students that we serve,” she said.

The food baskets included raw ingredients for students to prepare their own meals at home. But many said they lacked the cooking skills to make a proper holiday dinner, while some went home and ate with their families instead.

“We’re designing our Friendsgiving Feast for our Food Pantry users, the students who are not going anywhere for the holidays because they can’t afford to go home, they don’t have family or friends nearby, they’re international students, or they just can’t get away,” Hayes said. “This gives them a space to thrive and have a Thanksgiving, family-style meal of warm, prepared food.”

The Food Pantry has partnered with on-campus caterer Epicure to provide the meal, which will include roasted turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, and of course, cranberry sauce. A dessert will also be served.

The event will also feature music from the student-run KSSU radio station, games such as Human Bingo, dancing and raffle prizes.

“It’s another way for our students to interact and get to know each other,” Hayes said. “Maybe they can make a few new friends to spend their extended Thanksgiving and Winter breaks with.”

Hayes hopes to raise $8,000 to cover the cost of the meal as well as purchase additional food items for students to pick up during the holiday season.

• See photos from the event

“Financially, students are struggling to live day to day and go to college and meet other family responsibilities,” Hayes said. “We’re hoping this small gathering will help students stay connected with the University and the resources we can provide.

“We just want to create a space for students and foster the idea of being their family away from home.”

There will be two Friendsgiving Feast gatherings, 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to serve a total of 240 students. Participants must pre-register here.

The Food Pantry, which provides fresh produce, food staples and basic essentials, is also altering its hours to allow students to shop for the week from 2-5 p.m. on Nov. 25, since it will be closed Nov. 28-29.

To donate to the ASI Food Pantry, visit their Swarmfunding page.