Staying in Pullman during school breaks can feel lonely at times, especially when many students travel out of town and back home for the holidays. For out-of-state students, sometimes it does not make financial or practical sense to travel home for the holidays.
When there is one week of classes between fall and winter break, it does not make much sense to spend hundreds of dollars to travel home. Most students go home for the holidays, but work, life and the fact that we live in an isolated area make it hard to frequently return to your hometown over the next three weeks.
You may wonder what there is to do during fall break in Pullman, but fret not, the community and beautiful landscape of the Palouse are here to help you make the most of your fall break right here in town.
To those living on campus in the dorms, Rogers Hall will host a Thanksgiving Get Together from 4 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 28 in the 12th-floor game room of Rogers. “Food and drinks and a lot of food” will be provided, per Presence. Connect with other on-campus students and enjoy a delicious evening with your peers.
For the fifth year in a row, Food for Pullman will be providing meal kits to families and students in town, with fresh and shelf-stable food. If you are able to spread the love and give back to the community, they are currently taking donations and will be accepting donations during the event.
Domino’s pizza will be given out to those who donate food during the event. The event will start at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Pullman City Hall Senior Center. Like years prior, the surplus food will be donated to the WSU Cougar Food Pantry.
The program’s meal kit sign-up sheet is at capacity, and you can email [email protected] if you have any questions.
The Community Congressional United Church of Christ and the Whitman Recovery Community are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for the community Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. at the UCC church. The free community dinner is offered to anyone who could use warmth, inclusivity and a yummy Thanksgiving meal, with options like turkey and ham.
Attendees are invited to stay after the meal to enjoy a game night, connecting and laughing with others. “Let’s take care of one another this season,” the event flyer said.
Pullman’s Safeway has a webpage dedicated to Thanksgiving meals and deals, right at your fingertips. Order to pick up your groceries and enjoy a scrumptious holiday meal.
If you are able to make your way over to Target, they are offering a $20 holiday meal for four. Gather with your friends and peers and put a Coug spin on your meal. If you are feeling fancy, you can even use some Cougar Gold from Ferdinand’s in the viral Tini’s mac and cheese.
Local businesses stay open, and some even have limited hours on Thanksgiving Day. Zoe Coffee and Kitchen will feature a Thanksgiving meal on its menu. You can grab a meal with a friend or take a coffee home and enjoy that new book you have been ignoring for weeks. You can even explore beautiful Palouse locations like Kamiak Butte and Wawawai County Park. Even when the campus closes, the region never stops being beautiful.
Fall break is not just about food and waiting until Thanksgiving dinner; it is also important to take this time to relax. Catch up on assignments, study for your finals, start a new 12-season show, or call a friend. You are not alone, but this break can be an opportunity to thrive in your solitude.
Even if Pullman can be eerily quiet during breaks, there are a variety of ways to feel connected, supported and at home. Whether you are sharing a meal with strangers, volunteering with the community, or exploring the quieter parts of the Palouse, break does not have to feel empty. Staying in Pullman has its own comfort, quiet, peaceful and full of small moments that remind you that you are a part of a community. No matter how you choose to spend it, you are not spending it alone.
Happy Thanksgiving, cougs!
