The Newman Catholic Center hosted the 56th annual Thanksgiving day meal, beginning preparation for the event days before Thanksgiving. Preparation involved volunteer work, donations, and lots of ingredients.
The Newman Center began hosting this event 56 years ago after a group of students were unable to go home over the Fall break. “Over the years, it’s grown and now everyone’s invited,” JP Dunn said.
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Now the event has grown to serve more people than the few who gathered there 56 years ago. “Last year, we served 1300 meals,” Dunn said.
This number of servings requires a lot of food. “With this dressing that we’re making, there are 30 pans,” Dunn said. “Each pan takes a dozen eggs. So, that’s 30 dozen eggs that go into this.”
preparation for the Thanksgiving dinner at the Newman Catholic Student Center in
Carbondale, Illinois. (Enan Chediak)
The Newman Center gets some of their ingredients from donations like the turkeys, which were donated by the Knights of Columbus. “They cook the turkeys and debone them and have them in pans, and all we have to do is thaw them out and heat them up on Thursday morning.” Dunn said. He estimated that they donate between 80 to 90 turkeys to accommodate the number of people who come.
Thanksgiving dinner at the Newman Catholic Student Center in Carbondale, Illinois. (Enan Chediak)
In addition to the Knights of Columbus individuals volunteered for the event from outside the Newman Catholic Center from various churches and abroad. “They either volunteer with coming to help us, or they buy pies and cakes and cookies to bring in and serve as dessert.” Dunn said.
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“Sometimes there are 20-25 people here buzzing around, working,” Dunn said.
In addition to this event that they do annually, the Newman Center also hosts charity events year round. As an outreach of St. Francis Xavier Church, the Newman Catholic center aims to support Catholic students at SIU. “Priest from there comes here and says mass every Sunday, Tuesday nights, and Thursday nights, and it’s a place for students to gather.” Dunn said.
Every week, the center hosts a free meal on Thursdays for students. “Somewhere around 50 to 60 students show up for that every week,” Dunn said.
Photo Editor Enan Chediak can be reached at [email protected]
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