From campus to community: students serve Thanksgiving spirit

St. Thomas Aquinas Students Partner with Meals on Wheels Rockland to Create and Deliver Over 800 Thanksgiving Care Packages to Homebound Seniors

St. Thomas Aquinas Students will host “STACsGiving” on Tuesday, November 19th, from 1:00–2:25 PM in the Romano Student Alumni Center at St. Thomas Aquinas College, to assemble Thanksgiving care packages to spread holiday cheer to over 800 homebound seniors in Rockland County as part of a semester-long service-learning project with Meals on Wheels Rockland (MOWR).

Beth Coleman, Marketing and Communications Specialist at MOWR—a non-profit that supports over 1000 Rockland Seniors—underscores the importance of college-age participation: “To keep this organization thriving in the future, it’s vital that college-age students become involved today. Their contributions bring fresh energy and compassion, which are at the heart of our mission.”

The “STACsGiving” event is the culmination of a semester-long service-learning project for MOWR. Since September, STAC students have been actively working with MOWR, focusing on public relations and social media strategies to build awareness of the organization to the college-age demographic. “The St. Thomas Aquinas College students have demonstrated impressive dedication,” says Coleman. “We hope this collaboration inspires young people to understand the importance of Meals on Wheels Rockland and encourages lasting connections between generations.”

Communication Arts Professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College, Elaine Winship, guides students in these real-world public relations/social media projects each fall. She notes, “The service-learning project not only builds students’ social media and PR skills but also allows them to work with a real client on a meaningful cause.” Students are busy conducting research, developing a comprehensive public relations strategy and creating engaging social media content for the organization and the upcoming event. STAC communication arts senior, Liam McClinsey, shares, “working with Meals on Wheels lets me give back to my community while gaining real-world experience for my resume. It’s rewarding to know our efforts are bringing happiness to seniors during the holiday.”

The STACsGiving event will be held in the Romano Student Alumni Center on Tuesday, November 19 from 1:00–2:25 PM and will feature Thanksgiving-themed stations where students will craft cards and gifts of gratitude for seniors in Rockland. The students will deliver the bundles of gratitude to MOWR to be included in the Thanksgiving food deliveries for homebound seniors during the week of Thanksgiving. The event promises a spirit of community and a connection that embodies the Thanksgiving season, the St. Thomas Aquinas mission and the goal of MOWR to introduce college students to the organization.