By AMY ADAMS
news@readthereporter.com
Monday evening, Nov. 25, volunteers and diners from all over the community filled the cafeterias at Westfield High School to overflowing for the second annual RocksGiving.
Approximately 200 parents, teachers, students, and community members volunteered to welcome guests, man craft tables, and serve up around 1,500 turkey dinners, complete with all the fixings.
Well over a year ago, Westfield Washington Schools Superintendent Paul Kaiser approached WWS Director of Community Engagement Ashley Knott with the idea of providing a community dinner that brought people together and also raised awareness of needs within the community.
“The best way to do that is to break bread and sit around the table,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction John Atha said. “All are welcome, no matter what. The whole purpose is to come have a Thanksgiving meal, be grateful for the wonderful community of Westfield, and meet somebody you might not know – and there might be some way you can connect and help them out.”
Kaiser’s dream became a reality last year and has only expanded this year.
According to Knott, who also serves as executive director of the Westfield Education Foundation, RocksGiving was made possible entirely by donations from community partners.
“Zero dollars come from the school budget,” she said. “This is put on and hosted by community in support of community.”
Duke Energy played a leading role as the title sponsor, providing all the dinner food and serving supplies.
The Reporter has learned that Duke Energy’s donation was $15,000.
Duke Energy Government & Community Relations Manager Mark LaBarr said that Duke Energy likes to help fight food insecurity anywhere it can.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to come together, especially those among us who may be distressed or may not have another opportunity for a Thanksgiving meal,” LaBarr said.
Each meal included turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Rolls and ever-popular cinnamon butter were donated by Texas Roadhouse, Costco contributed 150 pumpkin pies, and Coca-Cola Consolidated ensured everyone had water, tea, or soda to wash their meal down.
Riverview Health provided festive yellow T-shirts for volunteers, and BMW Dreyer & Reinbold supplied the kitchen staff with aprons. Northview Church helped cover any remaining expenses in order to make the night a success.
“The number of volunteers that have reached out to support others in the community speaks to what amazing youth, parents, community members and businesses we have in Westfield,” Knott said.
WWS Director of Food Services Paul Sherrer said he and his team had been working on preparing for the meal for months. And when they ran into a snag with the turkey orders, they did what they had to do, right down to picking up the turkeys themselves, to make sure the meal went off as planned.
“Our goal is that people don’t see all the running around we do,” Sherrer said. “They just come in and enjoy the meal.”
Knott acknowledged that the WWS food team goes above and beyond to make sure students are fed on a daily basis.
“Tonight is just another extension of how much they care,” she said.
In addition to the free meal, students from the Westfield Intermediate School choir serenaded guests with holiday tunes, and craft stations offered children activities such as decorating cookies and making friendship bracelets. The event also welcomed organizations such as Hamilton County Public Health, Heart & Soul Clinic, Westfield Washington Township, and Westfield Youth Assistance to offer information and services to whoever might need it.
Any leftover food was delivered to Westfield police and fire stations as well as to Second Helpings, a hunger relief agency which accepts food donations to make sure people are fed throughout central Indiana.
Reporter photos by Amy Adams
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