Single-Parent Hancock Students Receive Free Thanksgiving Meals

NOVEMBER 22, 2022-- For the fourteenth year in a row, Allan Hancock College’s CARE program provided students who are single parents with a turkey and other Thanksgiving meal items free of charge. 

  Seventy-five families stopped by CARE’s “Turkey Fest” booth outside the college’s Santa Maria campus on Nov. 22, where CARE staff provided them with everything they need to prepare a delicious Thanksgiving meal. The packages included a turkey, potatoes, beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, stuffing, pumpkin pie, whipped cream and butter. The packages also included directions on how to prepare and cook the turkey. 

 “This event is an opportunity to provide these students with a Thanksgiving meal so they can celebrate a holiday they might not otherwise have the chance to,” said Hancock CARE/EOPS Coordinator Alex Spiess.  

 The Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) program is a state-funded program for single parents attending Hancock. The program provides support services such as tutoring, academic counseling, computer access, and a play area for the student’s children. This year, the turkey giveaway was expanded beyond students in the CARE program, and also included students in Hancock’s EOPS, NextUp, CalWORKs, Rising Scholars, Guardian Scholars, AIM to Dream, CAN/TRIO, Veterans, LAP, Noncredit Counseling and Basic Needs programs.

 Funds to purchase the turkeys and other food items were donated by Hancock staff, faculty, administrators, members of the college’s Board of Trustees and donors from the Allan Hancock College Foundation. The Turkeys and food were purchased from Spencer’s Fresh Market.

 “As a community, we raised over $4,500 to make the Turkey Drive possible,” said Hancock Executive Director of College Advancement Jon Hooten. “We are incredibly thankful to all the staff, faculty and other donors to the Foundation for making this a special day for our students.” 

 To learn more about the CARE program, visit https://www.hancockcollege.edu/eops/care.php or call 805-922-6966 ext. 3623.