***This article was written by Joey Drawyer, a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Fund.

Wethersfield High School Student Council and the FFA are mixing things up this year. Rather than hold their annual Holly Jolly Christmas Festival, they are putting together a Free Community Holiday Meal at the Wethersfield High School.

The community meal will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food will be served in the high school cafeteria with seating in the high school gym. Drinks and dessert will also be provided in the gym.

The free meals will be prepared and served by WHS students in student council and FFA. Student council advisor Tricia Lay, FFA advisor Kate Rashid, and teacher and parent volunteers will assist in providing food with the students. Wethersfield’s Food Service Director, Ladosha Bystry, is helping to organize, order, and prepare the meals.

Lay and Rashid say the event’s preparations will be able to serve over 300 people. The student council and FFA promote community service activities for their members, and this event is one of them.

According to Lay and Rashid, the purpose is to show the students the value of giving back and serving others. “We wanted to provide an event for all of our members to work together,” said Lay.

The group’s aim to share the joy that the holiday season brings to those in need, as well as any family or group of friends. The idea for this event was inspired by a member of the student council, Leah Franklin, who helps serve the community free meals with her church each month.

Lay and Rashid hope to provide a similar opportunity during this holiday season, promoting teamwork among their students and the gathering of families and friends.

Even though the Free Community Holiday Meal will be held in the Christmas festival’s place this year, the event will not be gone forever. The festival and Community Meal will alternate each year, meaning the community will see the festival again next holiday season.

With this change, the student council and FFA hope to make the festival an exciting event kids will look forward to, while also continuing to spread holiday cheer. Among the student volunteers are student council Presidents Sophi Li and Kendall Vincent and FFA President Megan Oliver.

Li, Vincent, and Oliver are no strangers to volunteer work. The presidents love giving back to the community, so the Free Community Holiday Meal is an event they look forward to participating in. They hope the meal will be a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone who shows up and those who volunteer.

The student council and FFA say the Free Community Holiday Meal will be a great start to the event-filled day in Kewanee. They encourage the community to visit Wanee Theater at 2:30 p.m., where the theater will play a Christmas movie, free of charge. Later, people can watch the Christmas Parade and lighting of Windmont and Northeast parks at 5 p.m.