The smells of Thanksgiving filled the halls of Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) last Friday. Serving tables were covered with mashed potatoes, gravy, perogies, and other autumn food staples. Students filled up their plates and enjoyed a turkey meal the Friday before Thanksgiving.
YRHS celebrated their second annual Thanksgiving lunch on Oct. 6. Kids from every grade chowed down on a hearty afternoon meal, along with invited members of the community.
“It really took off this year,” said Chelte Young, a grade 11 student and one of the organizers of the event. “It’s worked really well.”
Young is part of the Leadership 30 class at YRHS. It’s a fairly new program for the school where students can earn credit for helping to organize events throughout the school year. Chelte chose the Thanksgiving lunch.
“I’ve just been helping getting volunteers together and trying to make sure all the businesses know they’re welcome to come,” she said.
The businesses in question donated food and other items to the lunch. Yorkton Co-Op, Prairie Dome, St. Mary’s Cultural Centre, and many more pitched in.
“There [were] so many sponsors,” Young said. “The whole event was covered.”
Young said the idea behind the lunch was to give everyone a Thanskgiving experience.
“Not every kid...gets to have a good Thanksgiving dinner,” she said. “This meal [is] a good chance for everyone to have a reason to be thankful.”
Lana Stanek-Sebastian is the teacher of the Leadership 30 program. She started the Thanksgiving lunch last year along with colleagues Jennifer Ingham, Roby Sharpe, and Johnna McBride.
“It’s a great success,” she said. “This year it’s become even bigger because we’ve got more community members on board.”
Stanek-Sebastian applauded the Leadership 30 students for their efforts,
“It’s been a lot of work,” she said. “I’m really proud of what they’ve...accomplished.”
More than students enjoyed the meal. The school invited the donors along with superannuated teachers and board members.
“They’re all just people who support our school,” Stanek-Sebastian said. “We thought it was important to have them share this day with us.”
Stanek-Sebastian estimated around 850 students and guests were served.
Chelte Young is happy with the Thanksgiving lunch turnout.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “It’s a thankful meal.”
