The Harvest Youth Board served its largest Thanksgiving Eve Dinner to date, providing meals for 4,000 individuals and families. The annual W. Dan Prince III Thanksgiving Eve Dinner was held on Nov. 27 at Martinsville High School, where community members were invited to enjoy a warm, festive meal. For those unable to attend in person, delivery services were available with advanced registration.
The Harvest Youth Board, established in 2015, began this tradition in 2016 after volunteering at Richard’s Christmas Dinner. Inspired by the experience, they decided to create a similar community gathering for Thanksgiving. Since then, the event has grown every year, becoming a cornerstone of holiday giving in Martinsville and Henry County.
“I don’t think we can stress how much this is a student-led initiative and organization. They come in after school and do all the work. It’s a really good learning experience for them,” said India Brown, program officer at the Harvest Foundation.
Months of Preparation
The dinner required extensive planning, starting as early as August. The students, under the guidance of Brown and grants manager Stacy Peters, manage the budget, order supplies, and organize logistics.
“They have a Thanksgiving Eve dinner budget; they order their own supplies,” Brown said. The initiative teaches valuable life skills while fostering a spirit of giving among the youth.
This year as many in the past, cooking responsibilities were handled by Scott Norman, a volunteer who ensures the massive food preparation runs smoothly and safely.
“He graciously volunteered to handle the cooking portion of the Thanksgiving Eve dinner,” said Brown. “This helps keep the teens out of the kitchen, creating a safer environment.”
Norman leads a team of volunteers to prepare the meals, which include both those served at the school and the 2,300 meals that will be delivered to community members who preregistered.
Delivery Program Supports Community
The delivery program has become a vital part of the dinner’s success. Once orders are placed, Brown and Peters verify the information, clean up the delivery lists, and create routes for volunteers to ensure the meals reach their destinations.
“A little over 2,300 meals are being delivered,” Peters said, noting the program’s growth, especially after in-person dining resumed post-COVID-19.
Peters shared emotional stories from previous dinners, including one from a woman whose home had burned down just before Thanksgiving.
“She always had to provide Thanksgiving for her family, but her house had burned down prior to that. She was living in a camper, but this was going to help her still provide food for her family,” Peters said.
Another story involved an elderly couple who consistently attended the dinner. “This year (the husband) called to let us know he is coming, that she wouldn’t be there, but that he wanted to come because they always enjoyed it,” Peters said. The man’s wife had recently passed away.
Promoting Literacy and Community
In addition to the meal, families with children under 12 received a copy of Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Daphne Pendergrass. The Harvest Youth Board also promotes literacy year-round through events like Books and Bunnies in April, furthering their mission of fostering a healthy, connected community.
Contributed photos
