Limestone Student Social Work Organization Collects, Delivers Thanksgiving Meal Supplies To Families In Need

Limestone University social work students had an important food delivery to make before leaving school for their recent Thanksgiving holiday break.

About 15 residents served by the free medical center and Senior Centers of Cherokee County received turkeys, canned goods, and other items for the traditional holiday meal.

Members of the Limestone Student Social Work Organization packed food boxes and delivered turkeys so families had food available to prepare their own Thanksgiving feasts.

The “Turkey Bowl” food drive was organized by students involved in the University’s social work organization. After helping local school families in recent years, Limestone students decided to direct their efforts to helping the senior center and families served by a free medical clinic opened in 2014 at the Senior Center.

The medical clinic provides a way for county residents without health insurance to receive healthcare services.

“We wanted to be able to provide Thanksgiving meals for families who are in need,” said Will Rivera, Vice President of the Limestone Student Social Work Organization.

The popular Thanksgiving community service project is organized annually by the Limestone University Student Social Work Organization. The social work classroom in the Curtis Building was completely filled with food on Wednesday, Nov. 27, donated by Limestone students, faculty, and business partners.

Students packed boxed with cans of green beans, instant potatoes, macaroni and cheese, rice, cranberry sauce, and desserts.

Members of Limestone’s Student Social Work organization started to collect food for the Turkey Bowl when classes began in August.

During the "Trick-or-Treat With the Saints" event on October 31, social work students placed a donation jar on their candy distribution station to collect donations in support of the Thanksgiving service project.

The social work organization has partnered with the Limestone exercise science department to collect canned food items from participants in a recent “Turkey Trot” race on campus.

The remaining food was given to Meals on Wheels and stocked away in a Limestone student closet that exists to help needy college students over the holidays.

“These community projects are important in seeing why we are doing social work,” Rivera said. “We hope we have set a new standard for future members of our social work organization to help others in the community.”

ACCOMPANYING PHOTO: Limestone University social work students Emily Mirabile, Will Rivera, and Emma McCoy pack boxes for Thanksgiving meals that were delivered to the Senior Centers of Cherokee County.

(Article and photo by Scott Powell, The Gaffney Ledger, 12-2-24)