As the leaves turn shades of orange and brown and fall sets in, it is the time for giving thanks and giving back to the community. TOMS club welcomes the season with their 2nd annual Feast to Feed event.
“Last year for the event, we did a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a variety of dishes such as cheesy potatoes, salad and pies,” junior and President of TOMS club, Alexis Kieffer, said.
The Feast to Feed is a benefit dinner hosted by TOMS club during the fall season. Community members pay their way in by donating non-perishable food items that will be donated to local food pantries. Wanting to step away from the traditional themes of canned food drives, TOMS club put a spin on the event by feeding everyone who donates.
“Each of our exec board members will be cooking the food for the event,” Kieffer said. “We have a Facebook page for the event allowing people to RSVP, so we can know how much food to get and make for the event.”
With many people filling their bellies with traditional Thanksgiving food, TOMS is switching up the food they want to serve the guests. The theme for this year’s dinner is “Taco/Nacho Night,” which will consist of a buffet offering protein options of chicken or beef along with other ingredients.
The event was inspired by the FEED supper project. That project allows guests to make a donation to provide meals to children and families in need and host a dinner, as well.
“We wanted to do something similar to the FEED project, that’s why we named it Feast to Feed as sort of a play on words type of thing and we also thought it was a pretty cool title,” Kieffer said.
TOMS club decided to cook the food for the event as a sign of thanks to participants for helping and providing food for others to have on Thanksgiving.
“It is great that students are coming together to put on an event that is open to the public and allowing everyone to come together and provide food to the local food pantries,” prep cook of dining services and community member Marge Ziegler said.
The non-perishables that people will be giving to gain access into the event will be donated to the Common Good community center in Bowling Green. The Common Good has a program known as “Our Daily Bread.” According to the Common Good website, this program offers loaves of bread and small pantry items, available every day for free. The Common Good accepts many non-perishable foods and hygiene items.
“Our mission as a club is essentially to start something that matters, give back to the community and provide resources to community members. With this event, we are doing just that and more,” Kieffer said.
The Feast to Feed event is Thursday Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Hanna Hall Room 207.
