The generosity of the greater community ensures that Reinhardt students who are unable to travel home for Thanksgiving can enjoy a traditional holiday meal when the University is closed. On November 18, 2025, St. Paul AME Church of Canton, Georgia, donated food baskets to the Student Health Center. This contribution more than doubled the supplies for the University Food Pantry’s Holiday Meal Project. Filled with turkey and dressing dinners, vegetables, pasta, fruit, healthy snacks, juices, and other essentials, the baskets offer nourishment and a powerful message of care.
“We recognize that many college students face unique challenges,” stated St. Paul AME Church Pastor Ferrun Johnson. “Our hope is that these Thanksgiving baskets remind them that they are seen, valued, and surrounded by a community that cares about their success and well-being.”
Support for Reinhardt students extends beyond Thanksgiving. The Waleska United Methodist Church and the Cherokee County Retired Teachers Association regularly donate provisions to the University, helping sustain students’ access to basic needs. In early November, the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church also approved a grant request to strengthen the University Food Pantry’s long-term resources.
Reflecting on the outpouring of support, Campus Nurse Gwen Chambers shared, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
- By Suzy Alstrin
