Arcadia University’s Division of Campus Life hosted the second annual Home Away From Home Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Castle Dining Room. This event is designed to bring together students, staff, and faculty who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.

Thanks to a Wawa sponsorship, each guest feasted on a gobbler bowl and mac and cheese. Additional food items included donations from Metz and contributions from the community. The dining room was set up with tables, board games, and areas for mingling, all encouraging attendees to make the experience their own.

“Students can eat, play board games, and talk to each other if they want to, and if not that’s fine. That’s the vibe we’re going for, you can make it whatever you need,” said Coordinator of Student Engagement Allannah Giles ’23, ’25M. “We’re open to anything, so whether some people just want the community, but they don’t necessarily want to interact, that’s okay, too. Just being around somebody is nice, because it really can be isolating.”

The Home Away From Home Thanksgiving Dinner spawned from Giles’ experience of staying on campus for Thanksgiving break as a first-year at Arcadia.

“I think that there should be things for the people that don’t necessarily have anywhere else to go and that’s something that I advocate for often because I was one of those students,” Giles explained. “When I stayed over for Thanksgiving break, I was alone for five days. At that moment, I would have just needed something like this, where it was like an open invite and you can go to just grab food and leave, or you can stay. It’s that openness of whatever you need that’s genuinely what students often need.”

Cheyanne Fleming ’25 certainly appreciated the invitation.

“Events like these give me a chance to share in the warmth of the holiday spirit, and create new memories with people who make me feel welcome,” she said. “My favorite part of Thanksgiving is the national Thanksgiving turkey pardoning!”

This Thanksgiving dinner aligns with the values of inclusivity and compassion, offering a vital resource for students who might otherwise feel unseen. 

“You can’t look at someone and know they have nowhere to go for the holiday,” Giles emphasized. “Student Engagement tries really hard to ensure that they’re represented even if they’re not saying they need it. I think that’s really the foundation of this holiday; community, giving back, loving people, and sharing that love.”

This year, the invitation was extended beyond students who stayed in their residence halls over the break to include students who live off-campus, faculty, and staff. Several faculty members attended with their families, strengthening the sense of community.