The 5th Annual RCPD BOND Friendsgiving event took place on November 18, 2022, bringing together a tasty Thanksgiving meal, fun, friendship, and connection. In years past, this event would take place in a community kitchen on campus and the group would cook an entire meal together; however, this year the event format was a bit different due to the increased number of participants. Instead of cooking the meal together, participants brought a dish to pass around —either a side dish or a dessert—while RCPD provided the main course. Approximately 20 students of all academic levels participated and gathered in the Pillar Room of Snyder Phillips to share fellowship during the buffet-style feast. Students enjoyed a menu consisting of fried chicken, gluten free mashed potatoes, corn, gluten and dairy-free macaroni & cheese, vegetables and dip, chips, pie, cookies, assorted candies, and drinks. One student even brought a homemade dessert they have made for their friends and family throughout the years, adding another layer of hospitality to the meal.
After dinner festivities included ‘minute to win it’ style games where the winning team had their choice of fidgets as prizes. However, there were no losers because the winning team wanted everyone to have a fun prize, so they shared the wealth! Students were encouraged to take leftovers and goodie bags back to have later or share with friends and roommates.
The BOND Friendsgiving was a successful event that surely left everyone who participated with a full belly and a grateful heart. A student shared they “had a great time and felt genuinely happy!” And another student didn’t want to miss out on the fun and so stopped in to visit with everyone during his break from work at the cafeteria.
BOND Program Facilitator and Ability Access Specialist, Lindsay Hill, shares, "It has been a difficult semester for so many students, many tell us they've been feeling exhausted and burnt out. It was so fun to be able to get together and share a meal and lots of laughs."
BOND offers structured opportunities for social and communication development and empowers participants as learners and leaders. With social events like Friendsgiving, pumpkin painting, tie dying, etc., the BOND program continues to grow in popularity among its participants and consistently brings fun, social opportunities for all