The following citizen contribution comes from Melissa Liriano, communications coordinator at LEAP (Leadership, Education, & Athletics in Partnership).
On Tuesday, the classrooms and community spaces at LEAP sites across New Haven transformed into spaces of holiday joy. The occasion was the annual “LEAP Thankful Dinners,” a beloved tradition where students, staff, and community partners pause to celebrate the spirit of gratitude before the Thanksgiving break.
For the hundreds of children in attendance, the event offered a chance to just be kids. Laughter filled the room as students tied-dyed shirts, played games with their friends, and joked with their counselors in a safe, celebratory environment.
But the centerpiece of the evening was the meal itself: a nutritious and delicious spread provided by Momma Kiss Kitchen Cuisine, LEAP and Dixwell Community Q House staff, and an anonymous donor who wants to ensure children have access to healthy, plentiful food. Students piled their plates high with turkey, corn, string beans, yams, rice, and potatoes, a meal that ensured every child could count on a warm, filling Thanksgiving dinner.
The village that supports LEAP made the event an incredible success. Volunteers from the community, including former LEAP counselors, took time out of their busy schedules to serve food and spread holiday cheer. Parents also contributed to the festive atmosphere, donating drinks and snacks for the children to enjoy alongside their meals.
At the LEAP Fair Haven South site, housed at the The Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration (F.A.M.E.), the spirit of service was personified by Pablo Juan Garcia, a Project Manager at Dimeo Construction. Garcia volunteered his evening to help serve meals to 100 students, connecting with the kids and bringing an infectious energy to the food line.
While the food and games brought the excitement, the “thankful speeches” brought the heart. In a quiet moment during the festivities, students stood up to share what they were most grateful for this year. The sentiments were deeply moving. One student shared that she is “grateful for those who provide for her and teach her,” while another reflected that he is “thankful to live a good life and for God.”
The impact of the season extended well beyond the dinner tables. Thanks to the generosity of CBIZ, Inc., LEAP was able to secure and give away 200 turkeys. The turkeys were distributed to LEAP families and counselors who requested them as well as families who signed up through the Dixwell Community Q House’s Annual Turkey Giveback.
LEAPers at Troup School.
The Q House team worked tirelessly to distribute these turkeys to local families, along with non-perishable food items and baby diapers, ensuring that the wider New Haven community had the resources needed for a happy and healthy holiday.
From the hands-on service of volunteers like Garcia to the logistical support of partners like CBIZ, Inc., this year’s Thankful Dinners and Turkey Giveback highlighted the power of partnership. It was a day defined not just by the food served, but by the community that surrounds and supports the families of New Haven.