NMC students turn classroom learning into community giving this Thanksgiving
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) Professional Communications students are working to provide 215 Thanksgiving meal boxes to local families through the 13th annual Business 231 Thanks-for-Giving experiential learning project.
The project gives students real-world experience while addressing food insecurity in the community. Of the 215 meal boxes, 165 will go to NMC families and 50 will be donated to families selected by Big Brothers Big Sisters.
With help from local organizations and community members, students are raising funds and collecting food donations to provide dinner boxes containing a turkey and traditional side dishes to serve a family of six, along with extra food to help families through the holiday season. Boxes include a pan for cooking the turkey, along with a family activity to make the day memorable. Additionally, those with dietary needs can select gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan meal boxes.
“You learn a lot about yourself through hands-on experience, and you get out of it what you put into it,” said class instructor Kristy McDonald.
To raise funds, the class is hosting a Glow Skate at Howe Ice Arena in the Grand Traverse County Civic Center on Nov. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $10 and skate rentals are an additional $5. The event will feature a bake sale and hot cocoa bar, and each attendee will receive a glow stick.
A prize giveaway is also available for donors who contribute $15 or more. Prizes include gift cards to local businesses, a one-night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, a one-night stay at Delamar, and putt-putt golf at Pirates Cove.
Enter the drawing by:
1. https://www.nmc.edu/give.
2. Choose an amount to donate (minimum of $15 for the prize giveaway)
3. Use the drop-down menu (Designate my gift to) select Thanks for Giving
4. You will receive a receipt once your payment is confirmed
In addition to monetary donations, the community can donate boxes of granola bars or jars of peanut butter. Food donations can be dropped off through Nov.18 in red donation bins in three locations:
- NMC's Front Street campus in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center lobby
- Great Lakes campus
- Parsons-Stulen building on the Aero Park campus
Meal boxes will be distributed on Monday, November 23, on NMC’s Front Street campus.
Release date: OCTOBER 19, 2026
For more information:
Cassidy Weber
Student Leader
weber329@mail.nmc.edu
(231) 590-1511
Kristy McDonald
Business Instructor
kmcdonald@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1059