Thanksgiving Banquet: Advocacy Center Gives Holiday Meals to SAC Students

On a sunny and beautiful afternoon, cars lined up in the parking lot behind the Chance Academic Center to receive an early Thanksgiving feast. The holiday food came courtesy of the Student Advocacy Center, which purchased the food to give San Antonio College students a helping hand during the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We wanted to help SAC students who had been working with our counselors and case managers and who were identified as being in need,” said Jillian Denman, director of the Student Advocacy Center.

Fifty students were given a “Thanksgiving Basket,” which was actually two large HEB bags that included everything needed to serve up a traditional Thanksgiving meal: a turkey, roasting tray, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, ingredients for a green bean casserole, rolls, butter, and a pie.

In addition, tStudewenty SAC students who were formerly in foster care or adopted were also given a basket. Krizia Franklin, an Alamo Colleges District student care advocate who works out of the Advocacy Center, received a state grant from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DPFS) to purchase the holiday meal for the students.

As Advocacy Center staff members loaded their cars, several students took the time to express gratitude for the Thanksgiving bounty.

Simona, who is in the biology: pre-nursing program, said the Thanksgiving basket was very appreciated, “especially this time of year, with everybody suffering from this pandemic.”

“It shows that SAC is really there for its students and I am totally grateful to them,” she added.

Nicole, a SAC psychology major who received a basket, said her apartment was recently burglarized and it has been an especially difficult time for her. “I wasn’t able to get this,” she said about the Turkey dinner. “It means a lot.”

“I think it’s great,” said Mark, who is in the computer information systems/computer science department. “The SAC Student Advocacy Center is providing a blessing.”

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