This Thanksgiving, dine with Marist and give back

By Alice Adams

Give thanks with Marist

One aspect of getting used to life in a new place is the differences in cultural customs. As international students, leaving our homes behind may also mean leaving behind traditions with which we’ve grown up! Thanksgiving is an American holiday. Not everyone is from the US, but many Marist students are; it can be harsh realizing that we won’t be home to share this tradition with family and friends. In a time of acknowledgment that our cultural relationship to tradition is rooted in controversial beginnings, it is even more important to reflect on how we can use the season as an opportunity to make the world a better place.

This year, Marist Italy will host a Thanksgiving dinner at Ciro & Sons, featuring classic foods with Italian style. First-year and Bachelors students are invited to attend and the meal will be free, but the office asks students to donate to this year’s Christmas Charity Drive (more information below). Here is an opportunity to have a taste of home in good company,  and an important opportunity to support the Florence community that is hosting us with kindness.

RSVP’s close today so RSVP now here! 

The opportunity is not limited to those attending the meal. Anyone in the program is invited to contribute! Wherever we are in the world, we should always seize the opportunity to give back and offer support however we can. 

Giving back

Thanksgiving is a chance to recognize all that we have in this life, and part of that is understanding that not everyone is gifted with the same privileges.

This holiday season, Marist Italy is partnering with the Rete de Solidarita’, an organization that assists local families in need, providing food and various types of support. Students can donate household materials and/or volunteer with the program.

Donations

Marist Italy is looking to assemble packs of household necessities for families in need. The goal is to put together twelve packs of the items listed below and provide 25 euro grocery gift cards with a goal of as many as possible.

Donations can be dropped off to our student workers in the Marist Italy office at Via del Giglio, 6, between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm, from November 25-28.

Below is a list of the items the drive is seeking:

Volunteering

For those looking to go a step further, volunteer opportunities are available, typically involving organizing at a food bank, assisting in the delivery of donation packages to families at Christmas (including the ones we are building with our donations!), as well as other opportunities that come up through the year. Coming up soon is a special fundraising dinner on Tuesday, December 3rd, and a number of students are already signed up to help in the kitchen for the event! Would you like to join them?

SSC Marisa, at marisa.garreffa@marist.edu, can provide more information.