Giving Thanksgiving Day One: ‘A Huge Success’
More than 1,200 students received free holiday groceries on the first day of the Santa Monica College Foundation’s ninth annual “Giving Thanksgiving” food drive outside the Cayton Center on Monday, Nov. 24.
The foundation provided currently enrolled students with fresh produce, nonperishables and pumpkin pie. They also received gift cards and clothing.
In addition to supplying students with resources, “Giving Thanksgiving” also raises funds for the Basic Needs Program and the Emergency Grant Fund, which offers year-round support to students facing basic needs challenges, according to the SMC website.
The foundation intends to raise $250,000 before the end of the event on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. “We’re at right around $245,000,” said Foundation President Dr. Lizzy Moore.
Moore started “Giving Thanksgiving” in her backyard with Wendi DeMorst, the associate dean of student instructional support, in 2017. According to Moore, they originally intended to feed people with nowhere to go for the holiday, but during the pandemic, they pivoted and established a food drive.
Associated Students (A.S.) has been “Giving Thanksgiving’s” largest monetary sponsor since 2019. On Oct. 28, the A.S. Board of Directors approved a $50,000 funding request from the foundation to address increased needs, rising food costs, and the delay in social benefits resulting from October’s government shutdown.
“I’ve gone to the ‘Giving Thanksgiving' event my last two years, and I’ve seen how much relief it provides, not just to me, but to my peers,” said A.S. President Ailsa Ortiz. “This is something that I wanted to ensure that they had enough funds to go even above and beyond.”
Some students left the event with a bag full of items and a smile on their faces. Others started eating as soon as they found a seat.
“It was a huge success, and I feel like, especially for someone with a family who really needs it, this would really make my day,” said Eike Miller Gomez, an SMC art major.
At 2:15 p.m., the foundation had served more than 800 people. By 5:30 p.m., it had supplied 1,270 students with resources. “Giving Thanksgiving” is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. According to Moore, they’ll be in front of the Bodega, rain or shine.