Edison School of the Arts Distributes 380 Thanksgiving Meals

Edison School of the Arts in Indianapolis played a pivotal role in ensuring that local families do not go without food this Thanksgiving. On November 23, 2023, students and staff participated in two significant service events aimed at giving back to the community. The school transformed its drive-through lane into a space filled with turkeys, boxed sides, and grateful families, distributing a total of 380 Thanksgiving meal kits with the assistance of partners such as Elanco Animal Health and Hatch for Hunger.

Naomi Shelton, a recipient of one of the meal kits, expressed her gratitude, stating, “We’re going to have a blessed Thanksgiving, and we’re going to think of our many, many blessings that we have today and every day.” Fellow community member Tandy Robinson shared her intentions, noting, “I’m going to give one to somebody I know that’s homeless… The other one I’m probably going to give to my neighbor because her mom just passed.”

Elanco Animal Health emphasized its commitment to addressing food insecurity in the west side neighborhood of Indianapolis. Lee Thomas, Senior Director of Communications at Elanco, remarked, “We’ve been really committed to try to fill that nutrition gap. Our turkey giveaway is just one part of that, but it’s part of a longer commitment to make sure Edison families have access to proper nutrition.”

Students Engage in Community Service

Inside the school gym, another service initiative took place, showcasing the school’s dedication to community engagement. Seventh and eighth-grade student government members collaborated with the Million Meal Movement, sponsored by Bank of America, to pack 10,000 meals in just two hours. This hands-on lesson in service provided students with an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to their community.

Emizjah Cannon, a student involved in the project, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I think it’s really important for this to happen, especially since I love my school for doing this, and giving us the opportunity to help and give back to our community.”

Michelle Britton-Watts, the school’s CEO, highlighted that this event marked the first of its kind for Edison School of the Arts. She expressed hopes for future events, stating, “Our goal here is to support our students both physically, mentally, and academically, and to be able to partner with our community partners on an event such as this, it just is woven into who we are here at Edison.”

The boxes of food prepared during the event will be delivered to those in need by students at a later date, reinforcing the school’s commitment to service and community support during the holiday season.