Four years ago, Brad Henning, Leyden’s boys cross country coach, was searching for a way to provide his team with a special life experience, one they wouldn’t typically encounter in their regular day-to-day routine.
Henning also had a goal in mind — to give back to the surrounding community in a charitable way. After discussing the idea with his team members, Henning decided they could assist in cooking and serving a full Thanksgiving dinner to locals in need. This was to become an annual tradition.
This year, the fourth annual Thanksgiving dinner took place in East Leyden’s cafeteria on Nov. 18. As in previous years, the athletes partnered with West Leyden’s service club students and Byron Benion, a teacher and service club sponsor.
Henning, a coach and science teacher at East Leyden, organized the Thanksgiving dinner with help from Benion and supportive faculty. He said the doors were open to anyone who wanted a hot meal, prepared by their own cooks.
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“Our kids are on the food line serving all the food, and then at a certain point, we give the kids meals,” Henning said. “They’ll sit down with the people who come in and just hang out and have a good time.”
In addition to offering a holiday meal, students decorated the cafeteria with streamers and festive centerpieces. Children who came in for a meal were able to add to the décor by coloring pictures at the kids table.
“Over the years, we’ve had people who have come in and asked to take the centerpieces, and we tell them to take whatever they want,” Henning said. “So they’ve taken things off the table because they think they’re kind of fun and want to have decorations in their house or apartment.”
Brian Santos, a senior cross country athlete, said this was his third year contributing to the school’s annual Thanksgiving dinner event. After leading guests to get their food and seating them at a table, Santos would engage them in conversation while they ate.
“I love helping people out because I feel like it’s contributing to the community, so it’s always fun,” he said.
While discussing topics ranging from the weather to details about their day, Santos said most guests expressed their gratitude for the event.
“They usually ask why we do [the dinner] and say thank you,” he said. “I just want them to know that we’re with them and want to help. West and East Leyden are together in supporting our community.”
All attendees left the event with both full stomachs and full hands, giving them the ability to pay the generosity forward.
“Over the past couple of years, everyone who has come has always gone home with a doggie bag. So they got a meal and have taken a meal away with us,” Henning said. “So in case they need a meal or want to sit down with some friends later on, here’s something they can serve and provide.”
George Goduto, a guest in attendance, said he lived at Leyden Family Services Center in a transitional living program for more than three years. During this time, he would attend several of Leyden’s community events.
“I think it’s nice to have this [dinner] every year; I’ve been here a lot of years,” Goduto said. “Now I live in Northlake, but I was homeless for a while, so I appreciate what they do for me.”
Henning said he wanted to expose his students to different life experiences with this event, even his own children.
“My kids and my assistant coaches kids, we all show up. I just want people to see what it looks like to be able to give back to a community,” he said. “Everybody needs help at some point, and if we’re here for that one moment in time to be a conversation or provide a hot meal, great. That’s all we’re trying to do is one little gesture of kindness; maybe it’ll pay itself forward in the future.”
Gianna Annunzio is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.