It’s a time-honored Binghamton tradition 26 years in the making, and a favorite for our students and community. Binghamton High School student volunteers hosted the annual Thanksgiving Dinner in a COVID-friendly fashion.
“We had 35 volunteers preparing the meals on Wednesday and handing out the meals and toys on Thursday,” Cody Luckey, BHS student and president of the National Honor Society, said. “We put on this dinner every year to give back, and it gives us a great perspective and appreciation of our diverse community.”
“Thanksgiving is a great day to give back, be thankful and to make everyone’s lives a little bit better,” Isabella DeVincentis, treasurer of the National Honor Society, said. “We really want to get involved and help the people of our community. We love this tradition and hope to keep it going for a long time.”
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s dinner was to-go style only once again, making the experience somewhat different than pre-pandemic Thanksgivings. will be a little different from in the past.
“This year we can't have the fellowship sitting at the tables, and that’s been a big part of the experience for the students in the past,” Thanksgiving dinner coordinator Stephen Giannini said. “Students had the chance to sit down with the people in our community and talk to them. The holidays can be lonely for anyone without family near, and our kids really enjoy providing that company. We look forward to restoring that aspect of the event in the future.”
Still, it’s a meaningful service project for everyone involved.
“The students that volunteer for this dinner have always said it's been a rewarding experience,” Giannini said. “I have never had a student that has said they didn't enjoy it. The students really enjoy working with the people they are giving to.”
Approximately 600 meals were distributed to community members on Thanksgiving Day. This year, in addition to serving free, ready-to-heat meals, toys were also available for any guest who wished to take one. We are proud of our students who give their time on their Thanksgiving holiday to make this event possible each year!