This holiday season, Spoon River College’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society is inviting the community to help make holiday meals a little more special through its “Gift of a Holiday Dish” campaign.
The student-led initiative will collect nonperishable ingredients for six traditional holiday dishes. PTK members will then assemble the ingredients into decorated gift bags, complete with recipe cards, to share with individuals and families during the holiday season.
Instead of a traditional food drive that collects assorted pantry items, “Gift of a Holiday Dish” gives donors an opportunity to contribute everything needed to prepare a specific dish, making it easy for recipients to bring a holiday favorite to their tables.
“What makes this project special is that our students aren’t just collecting food. They’re putting together something thoughtful that families can enjoy together. It’s a simple way to show how small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in someone’s holiday,” said Becca Werland, SRC faculty member and PTK advisor.
The six featured recipes are green bean casserole, candied sweet potatoes, easy apple pie, holiday stuffing, cornbread, and cranberry-orange holiday salad.
Community members can donate ingredients for one recipe or several. All donated items should be unopened, nonperishable, and within their expiration or best-by dates. Donors do not need to purchase or decorate gift bags; PTK members will handle the assembly and packaging. Donations should be brought to the SRC Canton Campus between today and November 16.
How to Participate
Donors are invited to contribute ingredients from any of the following recipes:
Green Bean Casserole
- 2 cans green beans
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 container French fried onions
Candied Sweet Potatoes
- 2 cans sweet potatoes in syrup
- 1 bag mini marshmallows
- 1 small package brown sugar
Easy Apple Pie
- 2 cans apple pie filling
- 1 box pie crust mix (enough for two crusts; just-add-water variety)
Holiday Stuffing
- 2 boxes stuffing mix
- 1 carton shelf-stable chicken or vegetable broth
Cornbread
- 2 boxes complete cornbread mix
- 1 can whole kernel corn
- 1 small jar honey (optional)
Cranberry-Orange Holiday Salad
- 2 cans whole-berry cranberry sauce
- 1 can mandarin oranges
Through this campaign, PTK members hope to demonstrate how small acts of kindness can come together to make a meaningful difference during the holiday season.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society recognizing academic achievement among students at associate degree-granting colleges. The organization promotes scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship.