A warm 17-year tradition continues in the Harrisburg schools

HARRISBURG - A Thanksgiving meal that began 17 years ago continued Monday, when Harrisburg teacher Benjie Willsey and several of her students hosted a traditional dinner.

"This is the 17th year we've done this, and it's a little different now," Willsey said. "When we started it, it was in the grade school, and then we moved it here (to the Pruett Building). Now, I'm at the middle school, so I was able to get students at East Side and Harrisburg Middle School to invite people from the community here."

Members of Harrisburg City Council, the Unit 3 school board, school administrators, legislators and law enforcement officers were among those invited. The Harrisburg Register/Eldorado Journal was the gracious guest of HMS sixth graders Caleb Williford and Aaron Mulligan, who talked about plans for Thanksgiving, favorite subjects in school and what foods they like.

All present enjoyed a sumptuous feast of turkey, chicken and dumplings and traditional Thanksgiving sides. A sprawling selection of desserts awaited those finished with dinner.

Willsey said the annual tradition is a way of giving back to the community for their support of the school and its students.

"It's our way of saying, 'Thank you,'" she said.