Think about your Thanksgiving. What do you see?

When most people hear Thanksgiving, they picture a big family gathered around a table filled with food and the satisfaction of being able to be together.

However, this is not the case for some people. Even some students here at Watkins Mill.

To combat this problem, the Student Government Association annually purchases food that is handed out to families that are in need during the holiday.

This program involves members of the SGA going out to a store to buy things that would normally be at a Thanksgiving dinner like stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and sparkling cider. “We got the food a week or two before we passed it out, then we spent a couple days packaging it,” senior Charlotte Kimball said.

Then, the SGA equally distributes the food in bags that are handed out on Thanksgiving. “We ended up making 25 different bags,” senior Hayley Myren said.

The students feel that this program is necessary because they know that some families aren’t able to have a traditional Thanksgiving without it. “I think it’s really nice because, personally…I’m very fortunate around Thanksgiving to have all this food around me,” junior Jessica Burgos said.

Myren loves giving back to the community and helping out families in need. “It feels really good to do things like this. I’m always looking for volunteer work in which I can benefit someone else.” Myren said. “I don’t get to see [the bags] handed out to people, but just knowing in my heart that someone is now going to be able to partake in a tradition like Thanksgiving, it feels really good.”

The other members that were a part of the program also enjoy the feeling of giving back and helping people. “Knowing that I’m helping out someone who doesn’t have that same benefit [of having a Thanksgiving meal] is really moving,” Burgos said.

Hopefully this program will continue to touch hearts and help families for years to come.