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.
鈥淚t really took off this year,鈥� said Chelte Young, a grade 11 student and one of the organizers of the event. 鈥淚t鈥檚 worked really well.鈥�
Young is part of the Leadership 30 class at YRHS. It鈥檚 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.
鈥淚鈥檝e just been helping getting volunteers together and trying to make sure all the businesses know they鈥檙e welcome to come,鈥� she said.
The businesses in question donated food and other items to the lunch. Yorkton Co-Op, Prairie Dome, St. Mary鈥檚 Cultural Centre, and many more pitched in.
鈥淭here [were] so many sponsors,鈥� Young said. 鈥淭he whole event was covered.鈥�
Young said the idea behind the lunch was to give everyone a Thanskgiving experience.
鈥淣ot every kid...gets to have a good Thanksgiving dinner,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his meal [is] a good chance for everyone to have a reason to be thankful.鈥�
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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great success,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his year it鈥檚 become even bigger because we鈥檝e got more community members on board.鈥�
Stanek-Sebastian applauded the Leadership 30 students for their efforts,
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot of work,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of what they鈥檝e...accomplished.鈥�
More than students enjoyed the meal. The school invited the donors along with superannuated teachers and board members.聽
鈥淭hey鈥檙e all just people who support our school,鈥� Stanek-Sebastian said. 鈥淲e thought it was important to have them share this day with us.鈥�
Stanek-Sebastian estimated around 850 students and guests were served.
Chelte Young is happy with the Thanksgiving lunch turnout.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a thankful meal.鈥�
