Campus Friendsgiving Brings Christian Groups Together

Campus Friendsgiving Brings Christian Groups Together

Warm Fellowship Marks Campus Friendsgiving

La Casa Cultural became a lively gathering place on Saturday afternoon as Christian groups across campus hosted an ecumenical friendsgiving dinner combined with a food drive. The event drew over forty five students and several community members who came to share a meal, enjoy conversation and support a local charity.

The evening was organized by a partnership of Yale’s Christian ministries. Students from Yale Students for Christ, Christian Union Lux, Chi Alpha and United Church of Westville at Yale played active roles in planning, cooking and preparing the space. The organizers made sure the dinner remained open to everyone, including students from different faith backgrounds and those with no religious affiliation.

Guests filled the room with laughter and easy conversation. Long tables held classic Thanksgiving dishes. Volunteers moved between the kitchen and the dining area carrying trays of food. The atmosphere felt relaxed and welcoming, drawing students who had not seen one another in weeks because of busy schedules.

Giving Back Through a Simple Meal

One important part of the evening was the food drive. Students brought canned goods and other nonperishable items to donate to Christian Community Action, a nonprofit that has supported New Haven families and individuals in need since 1967. For many attendees, giving back felt natural in a season that often includes large meals and extra food on campus.

Student organizer Grace Kostecki said the food drive created an easy way for students to help others. She explained that many students have extra dining points near the end of the semester. Buying canned goods from The Bow Wow, the campus convenience store, allowed them to turn unused points into something meaningful.

Kostecki also shared that the idea for a shared meal came from an Easter dinner she and others hosted last spring. They enjoyed the sense of community so much that they decided to create something similar in the fall. The friendsgiving theme gave them a chance to celebrate, invite friends and serve the larger community.

A Space for Connection

One student, Tony Wang, appreciated the way the dinner brought people from different ministries together. He said it is sometimes easy to remain in small Christian circles, but events like this help students meet one another and encourage each other in faith. Many in attendance agreed, saying they valued the chance to connect with people they usually would not meet in everyday campus life.

Another organizer, Kaylen Yun, said the plan for a joint event started over brunch after a Sunday church service. A group of senior girls talked about the importance of creating spaces where students from different ministries could meet. Their conversation soon turned into the outline for the event that took place on Saturday. They hoped the friendsgiving would make it easy for anyone to join, relax and share a meal.

Volunteers from each group spread the word through messages, social media posts and personal invitations. By early afternoon, students had already gathered in the kitchen to prepare food together. They cooked traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as green bean casserole, cornbread and pumpkin pie topped with hand whipped cream. The shared cooking brought students closer even before the dinner began.

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A Welcoming Table for All

For first year student Joy Zhou, the event felt warm and familiar. She enjoyed seeing friends and reconnecting with classmates she had not seen in a while. She said the atmosphere made it easy to start conversations and feel at home.

Another attendee, Madilynn Hamilton, said the friendsgiving reminded her of the way Christ welcomed everyone without conditions. She noticed that people came from different backgrounds and levels of involvement in campus ministry, yet the room felt open and accepting. The evening gave students the freedom to join without pressure and enjoy a moment away from academic stress.

Looking Ahead

As the night came to a close, organizers shared their hope to make the friendsgiving dinner a yearly tradition. Kostecki said she is already planning for the next Easter dinner. She believes that simple gatherings where students eat together, serve together and learn from one another help build stronger community life among Christian groups on campus.

For now, many students left the event feeling refreshed. They carried the joy of shared meals, new friendships and the satisfaction of giving back to those in need. The friends giving may have lasted only a few hours, but its impact reached beyond the walls of the cultural house. It reminded everyone that fellowship grows when people come together with open hearts, generous hands and a desire to care for their community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content Credit : Boluwatife Abiola

Image Credit : Google .Com