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| Saying ‘thank you’ with the gift of food |
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| News | |||
| Written by Aaron Cedeño | |||
| Wednesday, 25 November 2009 09:00 | |||
In 1992, Louisburg USD 416 had good reason to give thanks.  With the opening of a new high school, the district was able to offer its rapidly-growing student population a first-class learning environment. The new facilities were made possible largely through the support of Louisburg’s senior citizens, so naturally Jim Knox and Don Meek – then USD 416 superintendent and LHS principal, respectively – wanted to find some way to show their appreciation. With the month of November upon them, it seemed fitting that they let the turkey do the talking. Thanksgiving turkey, that is, and not just turkey, but a full Thanksgiving meal offered free of charge, as part of an afternoon of food, friends and entertainment. Things may have changed quite a bit in USD 416 over the course of the past 18 years, but the sentiment remains the same. Since 1992, the new high school they celebrated with that first Thanksgiving dinner has become the middle school, an even bigger high school opened its doors in the fall of 2002, and Rockville Elementary School welcomed students in 2008. When the community is concerned, said Louisburg High School Principal Dave Tappan, there’s never a shortage of reasons to say “thanks.” “I think our staff and students day in and day out realize what a great facility that we have,” he said. “This is one way to thank the community members who helped provide this.” On Tuesday, Nov. 17, more than 200 senior citizens packed the LHS commons for a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner, following entertainment provided by the LHS choral program. Served by members of the school’s first year culinary arts program, the dinner was their biggest yet. In the eight years he’s been a part of the school district, Tappan said, the event just keeps getting bigger and bigger. “Every year it has grown in numbers,” he noted. “I think the word is out that it’s an annual event. I think the entertainment that’s provided is excellent, and I think as we continue to grow as a community the numbers increase hand in hand with that.” Another reason for the popularity, he added, is most certainly the quality of the meal. Head cook Mary Jo Weers takes great pride in making the meal from scratch, and preparations begin approximately three weeks in advance. All told, Weers and her staff prepared 44 turkey breasts, 29 pans of stuffing and 850 rolls for the meal; and if the feedback they’ve heard is any indication, every bite is appreciated. “Each year we receive several thank you cards or thank you notes,” Tappan said. “Our staff takes pride in making sure we put on a great presentation and dinner for our community.” Weers has been preparing the annual Thanksgiving dinner since its inception, and feels it’s become one of the district’s most beloved traditions. For some of their guests, she said, this may be the only Thanksgiving dinner they get; so the students and staff want to make sure it’s a great one. “I can’t imagine not doing it,” Weers said. “I really can’t. I love it. It’s a lot of work, but it’s so rewarding.” To Tappan, the gathering serves to let the school district’s senior citizens know their support does not go unnoticed, and keeps those channels of communication strong. “A lot of the senior citizens who attend are either originally from Louisburg or have grandsons and granddaughters in our schools,” he explained. “It’s a really nice way for us to reconnect with the community, and keep that connection alive.”
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