Turkey in Carbondale
November 25, 2007
Some SIUC students will spend Thursday enjoying turkey, dressing, time with family and watching football.
But some will have to stay in Carbondale over the holiday break.
If these students would like to enjoy what some consider a traditional Thanksgiving dinner or want to spend the day making someone else’s day a little brighter, there is a place in Carbondale they can go.
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The Newman Catholic Student Center has been hosting a Thanksgiving Day dinner for 39 years.
The dinner is open to anyone in the community and can even be delivered.
Linda Brayfield has been coordinating the event for about 30 years.
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She said it began as a dinner for the priest at the Newman Center when he and a few of his close friends were stuck in Carbondale for the holiday. She said after that it just started growing.
“For about the last six, seven or eight years or so we have served 700 to 800 meals,” she said. “As long as we have food, we will serve.”
Eating at the Newman Center is not the only option. Brayfield said the center can use as many volunteers and donations as possible.
Brayfield said they have had many student organizations affiliated with SIUC in the past, and even some students just looking for something to do, helping out by volunteering and making donations.
However consistent she tries to be, Brayfield said each year is different from the last.
“The whole situation varies from year to year, every year is basically its own unique year,” she said.
Beth Scally, associate director of university housing, said as of Thursday afternoon, about 100 students had signed up to stay on campus for the week-long break.
Scally said all students are moved to University Park but all dining closes. Remaining students are charged $15 per night.
Scally said there is a chance more students will stay depending on whether there is a home football game the weekend after Thanksgiving. The university will announce Sunday whether there will be one.
She said if there is a game, the number would likely increase to about 200.
Scally said university housing workers tell students the Newman Center serves Thanksgiving dinner but many don’t take advantage of it.
“A lot of the students just do microwave cooking in their rooms or order out,” she said.
Christian Holt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or [email protected].
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