HPU Students Provide 100 Thanksgiving Meals for Local Families
High Point University students are giving back to the community during this season of gratitude by raising funds and providing 100 Thanksgiving meals that can feed a family of four. Pictured from left were Savannah Miller and Ashlyn James, who are members of HPU’s Professional Selling Club, with Michael Henry, vice president of safety and sites for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater High Point, Katie Downing, Ava de Zagon and Jonathan Lazaridis after they loaded boxes into the bus.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 25, 2025 – High Point University students are giving back to the community during this season of gratitude by raising funds and providing 100 Thanksgiving meals that can feed a family of four.
This is the 11th year students in HPU’s Professional Selling Club filled boxes with turkey, stuffing, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, pie and a handwritten note. They loaded the boxes full of food into a bus from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater High Point on Nov. 24. The bus will deliver the meals to local families for the holiday.
This annual event allows HPU students to reflect on their situation and make the most of each opportunity, said Ashlyn James, a junior who is majoring in sales and serves as the selling club’s vice president of philanthropy.
“Students love to participate in this philanthropy event because we feel a strong responsibility to support families in the community who may be struggling during the holiday season,” said James, who is from Climax, North Carolina. “Giving back to the community has allowed us to make a real difference and show our compassion and empathy. We believe everyone deserves a wonderful Thanksgiving meal to enjoy with their families.”
The selling club raised money online to buy food for those in need. It received additional support after spreading the word about its Thanksgiving food drive on social media.
The Thanksgiving meals will be distributed to families through seven different locations of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater High Point, said Michael Henry, the nonprofit organization’s vice president of safety and sites. He drove the bus for a fifth year to distribute HPU students’ meals donation.
“We have a lot of families that aren’t able to afford what we consider a traditional Thanksgiving meal,” Henry said. “The biggest thing is the cost of everything is going up, so this really helps our family members more than ever. It’s partnerships like this that allow us to serve our communities, especially those with the most needs.”