![<p></p><p>“I like [cooking] because you see the difference you are making,” Glista said. “I worked in soup kitchens before, and cooking lets you see your results immediately.”</p>](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/cav/55c05593-f983-427b-a5eb-9612d1c6bafd.sized-1000x1000.jpg?w=1000)
The U.Va. chapter of Campus Kitchen held Turkeypalooza - an annual event that provides Thanksgiving meals to low-income families in the Charlottesville community - this past weekend.
Campus Kitchen collaborated with community partners including Hope House, Emergency Food Bank and Love Link, who picked up the food prepared by the CIO on Friday at the St. Pauls Church.
First-year College student Jessica Lakshmi Chandrasekhar explains the benefits of volunteering at Turkeypalooza.
“This is a tangible experience, and you do not feel like you are sitting behind a desk - it is active volunteering,” Chandrasekhar said.
Volunteers compiled pre-packaged foods which families could re-heat in their homes and prepared Thanksgiving staples including green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, roasted sweet potatoes, turkey and stuffing.
The food was acquired over several weeks through various fundraising efforts including food drives, bake sales and donations. Campus Kitchen’s alliance with the Inter-Sorority Council also provided funds through a coin jar competition held among sorority houses.
Fourth-year College student and co-chair of Campus Kitchen Estelle Gong Kitchen highlights how Turkeypalooza sheds light on larger structural issues within Charlottesville.
“[Volunteering] is more than feeling good, it is realizing that you are part of the Charlottesville community,” Gong said. “Volunteering is important but giving food is not enough, it is about understanding why the problems exist.”
Turkeypalooza also marks a shift in objectives for the chapter here at the University. The majority of the year is spent working towards sustainability goals, and event allows the CIO to serve people beyond the University community.
Gong hopes to improve the event by expanding it by serving more families and engaging with more community partners.
First-year Engineering student Genevieve Glista explains how cooking is one of her favorite forms of volunteering.
“I like [cooking] because you see the difference you are making,” Glista said. “I worked in soup kitchens before, and cooking lets you see your results immediately.”
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