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�Ա���Ƶ students and administrators are working to make sure Thanksgiving is as welcoming and happy for as many people as possible.

Student-athletes have already collected more than 500 pounds of food for the Hamilton Food Cupboard. The goods were donated by Raiders supporters at recent games and also will be collected at tonight’s .

The items were dropped off Tuesday at the food pantry, replenishing supplies for area residents shopping for the holiday.

“It was great to see the food drive having such an immediate impact right before Thanksgiving,” said Shaun Richard, associate director of athletics.

This Thursday, the university will set a festive table of its own for undergraduates staying in Hamilton.

Most of the 75 students on the guest list are international students who are unable to get home during the break, according to Assistant Dean for Multicultural Affairs Thomas Cruz-Soto, who organized Thanksgiving dinner with ALANA office manager Makiko Filler. “Some arrive at �Ա���Ƶ and won’t go home for four years,” he said.

To keep �Ա���Ƶ feeling like a home-away-from-home, Theta Chi chef Jerry Nash will serve up traditional Thanksgiving fare at the ALANA Cultural Center, where guests will be welcomed by Merrill Miller, director of student health services, and staff nurse Linda Maynard.

“Having my own family stretched out across the country, I empathize with these terrific young men and women,” said Miller. “We love spending time learning about their cultures.”

A variety of activities are planned for the students, including a bus trip to New York City, and the students also are volunteering at a “game day” event for community residents to be held Friday at the �Ա���Ƶ Bookstore.