Nevada FFA holds an annual winter dinner for community members.
Each year, the Nevada FFA Chapter in Nevada, Iowa, hosts a dinner for its community. This year’s event, which was held on Jan. 21, 2024, served around 500 people.
At the center of this gathering is Lilly Henderson, Nevada FFA Chapter president and Nevada High School senior. Henderson joined the winter dinner committee during her freshman year.
The Winter Dinner Committee
The committee plays a vital part in making sure the dinner runs smoothly. From sourcing food to organizing volunteers, committee members plan each aspect of the dinner.
“A lot of times, there’s a youth volleyball tournament on the same day as the dinner,” Henderson said. “Many of our members are coaches for the youth teams, so we have to work around that to gather volunteers for the event.”
One important task the committee handles is reserving the event’s venue, Gates Hall. Food is sourced from the Nevada Community School District Food Service, which students prep for the meal.
A Meal for All
A unique aspect of the event is its delivery service. A team of committee members deliver meals to citizens of the community who are not able to make the trip to Gates Hall. This additional service ensures that everyone is able to receive a hot meal after the busy holiday season, regardless of mobility or other challenges. Around 20 to 30 meals are delivered throughout the duration of the dinner.
Another important aspect is ensuring that it is a free for everyone to attend. Nevada FFA Chapter advisor Kevin Cooper makes sure no one is deterred from the event because of a pressure to donate.
Each aspect of the dinner is crafted with the value of inclusion at the very center. “The purpose is to make sure everyone in our community has a meal around the holidays and gets to interact with others,” Henderson added.
