Did you enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday? If you are like most Sturgis students, you probably did. The yummy home cooked meals, the leftovers, and the family reunions are definitely reasons to give thanks. However, every year many people can’t afford to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, this year, some families did get the chance to have a delicious feast because of some Sturgis students and faculty. This month, the Sturgis Key Club worked with an organization called the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod. Together, they participated in the Sturgis Turkey Basket, collecting Thanksgiving meals for some of the many families who could not afford a Thanksgiving feast. Junior Heather Kelsey led the Turkey Basket effort. The team worked with Dr. Albis of Sturgis East to make sure that Thanksgiving dinner was not canceled for many families.
The Turkey Basket is a great way to help those in your own community. Across the country, schools, churches and other organizations participate in a community Turkey Basket Drive in order to provide a Thanksgiving meal to people and families in need. They are then are able to make a dinner with all the fixings for family or friends.
At Sturgis, each advisory who would like to participate was given an assigned food item to contribute. In addition, money was donated by each advisory for individual gift certificates for the families. After two weeks, Key Club collected the items, which were then separated into boxes and delivered.
Dr. Albis is the coordinator and organizer for the Turkey Basket at Sturgis. Sturgis has been participating in the Turkey Basket for ten years, and Dr. Albis has been coordinating six years. Previously, he did most of the work on his own and had student volunteers help out. This year, Key Club got involved, and a team of individuals helped to organize and deliver items, making the process run more smoothly. In addition to many gift cards, about seventeen boxes of food were collected.
According to Kelsey, “The Turkey Basket is an amazing idea and a simple but meaningful way to help the community. It gives those who are unable to provide for their families the fixings to make a substantial meal. For people who don't need to go to a soup kitchen or shelter but who are unable to afford a large meal, the Turkey Basket provides independence. This is such an amazing cause, and I am so glad to have helped organize this for Sturgis. I enjoyed it so much, and I hope to make it even bigger and better at our school next year!”
This the time of year, reflecting on what we are thankful for and realizing how lucky we are is important. The Turkey Basket is a wonderful opportunity for students to give back to their community and make a difference.
Sturgis wants to thank all of the advisories and students who participated in the Turkey Basket this year. You all helped give many families a wonderful Thanksgiving feast. We look forward to continuing this Thanksgiving tradition at Sturgis and to bringing joy and happiness to many families every year. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!