Baylor University students share the annual Thanksgiving meal

MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas – For nine years, Baylor University students have been coming together to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, but for these students, it’s more than just a meal

• As 12,000 meals were prepared for Baylor’s All-University Thanksgiving, students, faculty and staff gathered at Fountain Mall to enjoy what students call a family meal.
• The community meal is put together by the Baylor Student Foundation. Madeline Kissling tells me it’s part of the campus’s “Sharing a Meal” campaign, which uses unused food credits to help students in need.
• Baylor University students think it’s appropriate to share a meal with their classmates because their friends already feel like family.

TRANSCRIPT:
“I have sweet potato casserole, turkey, super yummy, green beans,” Baylor student Emily Alonzo said

“The glazed ham from Dr. “Pepper surprised me, but he’s really fun and really good,” Levi Garza said

As 12,000 meals were prepared for Baylor’s All-University Thanksgiving, students, faculty and staff gathered at Fountain Mall to enjoy what students call a family meal.

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“I don’t have a chance to enjoy Thanksgiving with my family since they’re back in Washington, but here I am celebrating Thanksgiving with the rest of my family because look around, it’s a whole community celebrating the Christian faith . “We can all enjoy it together,” said third-year student Levi Garza

The community meal is put together by the Baylor Student Foundation. Madeline Kissling tells me it’s part of the campus’s “Sharing a Meal” campaign, which uses unused food credits to help students in need.

“This may be the only Thanksgiving meal students will have, and it was a blessing to be able to have this experience for them and give them a true Baylor experience,” Madeline Kissling said.

But the band, the photo ops and the plates of food aren’t the only things these students are grateful for.

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“I’m grateful for all the friendships and relationships I’ve built here,” Kissling said.

“The people behind me have carried me through my ups and downs, the people behind me are the reason I am where I am today,” Garza said

“I’m really grateful for the friendships I have because they’re always there for me,” Alonzo said.

Alonzo said she and her classmates spend so much time together throughout the year that it feels like a second home.

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