For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: November 25, 2021
Gabel organizes free Thanksgiving meal for community
Cuba City -More than 70 local families will be enjoying a free traditional Thanksgiving meal today, along with groceries and other treats thanks to the dedication of Karissa Gabel, a student in Southwest Wisconsin Technical College’s University Transfer – Liberal Arts program, which is offered in partnership with Nicolet College.
Ava, Karissa and Elijah
Gabel, from Cuba City, Wisconsin, organized the first free Thanksgiving meal event last year for families in her hometown. There were 53 families that were impacted. This year, 74 families signed up, including a few in Platteville, Wisconsin. Gabel and her family members deliver each meal on Thanksgiving evening. Meals for the Platteville families will be picked up at the Cuba City VFW. Because of the large amount of food items, Gabel outgrew space in her home this year and is utilizing the Cuba City VFW, as well. Family members, friends and people from the community assist in the preparation of the meals and the groceries.
The motivation for the idea was ignited as part of a class project. In addition, Gabel’s late grandmother was a great baker and very generous. “She was very giving,” she said. “She wanted to bake and deliver meals to anyone. So, those two things were my inspiration to do this.”
Donations came from Cuba City and surrounding businesses, as well as churches, family members and friends.
“Last year, as we delivered the meals it was amazing to see how thankful the families were,” said Gabel. “Last year, a lot of the families were not able to go anywhere because of COVID, so a lot of them spent Thanksgiving alone. So, when we delivered to them we tried to stay a little bit and talk to them and let them know we cared about them.”
In the future, Gabel is hoping to host a free in-person Thanksgiving meal for those in the community. “I’m hopeful that next year or the year after that we can have people come and eat together,” she said.
Students in Jennifer Holmes’ fourth grade class at the Cuba City Elementary School made these Thanksgiving cards for each of the families. The gift cards that were donated will be placed in these cards.
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |