The Harvest Youth Board is entering an exciting new chapter in its history that builds on a community tradition while expanding opportunities for community leadership and connection across Martinsville-Henry County.
For nearly a decade, the Harvest Youth Board has hosted the W. Dan Prince III Thanksgiving Eve Dinner, bringing thousands of community members together to share meals, gratitude, and fellowship. In 2026, the Youth Board will transition that longstanding tradition into the Community Thanksgiving Table Fund, a new initiative designed to support multiple community-led Thanksgiving meals and gatherings throughout Martinsville-Henry County.
The Youth Board emphasizes that this change is not an ending, but an evolution.
The Thanksgiving Eve Dinner was one table where everyone was invited. The Community Thanksgiving Table Fund allows for an even bigger table with more hosts and more opportunities for neighbors to come together throughout Martinsville-Henry County.
Over the past several years, Youth Board members noticed an encouraging trend. Community groups and organizations have increasingly stepped forward to host their own Thanksgiving meals and gatherings. Rather than viewing those efforts as separate from the Thanksgiving Eve Dinner, the Youth Board saw an opportunity to strengthen and support them.
“The Harvest Youth Board realized that some of the most meaningful community connections were already happening within neighborhoods, churches, and local organizations,” said India Brown, Harvest Youth Board Advisor. “One of the greatest lessons the Board learned through the W. Dan Prince III Thanksgiving Eve Dinner is that meaningful change happens when people come together around a shared purpose.”
Through the Community Thanksgiving Table Fund, the Harvest Youth Board will invest up to $30,000 in community-led Thanksgiving initiatives, providing grants of up to $3,000 to support free Thanksgiving meals and gatherings during Thanksgiving week. The fund is open to nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and community groups rooted in Martinsville-Henry County. The Youth Board is particularly encouraging collaboration among organizations to maximize impact, reduce duplication, and ensure that Thanksgiving celebrations are accessible across the community.
The Youth Board will continue to play an active role beyond grantmaking by helping promote community dinners, coordinating volunteer opportunities, and supporting participating organizations throughout the process. Rather than organizing one central event, the Youth Board will now serve as a community connector, helping create a network of Thanksgiving gatherings across Martinsville-Henry County.
“We’re excited to grow this community tradition by creating more opportunities for neighborhoods and organizations to get involved while providing the resources they need to make it happen,” said Makenna Reynolds, Chair of the Harvest Youth Board. “Our hope is to create a true community-wide effort where churches, nonprofits, community organizations, and volunteers come together to help ensure everyone has access to a Thanksgiving meal.”
The transition also allows the Youth Board to refocus on its core mission: youth philanthropy and grantmaking. Since its founding in 2015, the Harvest Youth Board has awarded more than $125,000 to local organizations and programs serving youth while developing the next generation of community leaders.
Applications for the Community Thanksgiving Table Fund will open on July 15 and close Aug. 31. Additional information about both funding opportunities will be available through The Harvest Foundation and the Harvest Youth Board.
