Jamie Lammers, Nederland. On November 22, 2019, Nederland Middle-Senior High School kicked off their Thanksgiving break with the annual Harvest Feast celebration. The entire school came together for a smorgasbord of delicious food, with the middle level and high school each having their own feasts. The students were joined by fellow Nederland community members, senior citizens, and first responders. Nederland has been hosting their Harvest Feast for 30 years, but it was initially an only-middle-school event. After a few years, the administration decided to make it an entire-school-event, also inviting the community to join the fun. This year, that fun continued, with the Sources of Strength program putting cornucopias filled with conversation starters on each table and the event culminating in an arm-wrestling match amongst the high school students.

Talking with students, administration, and volunteers at the event, everyone commended the event’s community element. The students loved being able to get together with their friends, especially those that they don’t get to interact with much during the year due to conflicting schedules. The volunteers, administration and other visitors loved seeing the entire community come together and communicate with other students, parents, and teachers. Finally, of course, everyone at the feast loved the food. For the community members that are not able to afford a Thanksgiving meal at their own home and or enjoy socializing with their friends and meeting new people, this feast is the perfect event.

The Harvest Feast has been an important Nederland tradition for over three decades now, emulating school and community spirit like no other Nederland Middle-Senior High School event. It rings in the Thanksgiving break with a fantastic meal that allows everyone to come together and truly celebrate the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday.

(Originally published in the November 28, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)