WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — TurkeyPalooza became a tradition 18 years ago at Wake Forest University when a student recognized the need of the surrounding community and recruited others to help make hot meals before Thanksgiving.

It's a sentiment that still resonates with students like freshman Chloe Cmelak.

What You Need To Know

  • Nearly 200 Wake Forest University students volunteered this past week for TurkeyPalooza

  • They cooked and delivered nearly 700 meals that went to 11 organizations around Winston-Salem

  • Ingredients for the food were paid for by crowdfunding or came from a campus garden

“I feel like in college I can kind of get in a bubble and don’t realize there are people that need help out there, and so I just wanted to work with the team to come and try to help people during the holidays,” Cmelak said. 

She and nearly 200 fellow students volunteered their time this past week to help others before the holiday break.

Senior Aryan Pasricha said this year students sourced garlic from the campus garden and raised money for other ingredients through crowdfunding.

They have been able to provide meals year-round by partnering with local grocers and restaurants.

“Typically, we deliver food not just for TurkeyPalooza but throughout the year, once or twice a week,” Pasricha said. “And a lot of the food that would be wasted from our local cafeteria ... or a grocery store like Lowe's will be redistributed.”  

Students delivered nearly 700 meals to 11 organizations that serve people in need.

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines in a proclamation for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week acknowledged the Wake Forest's campus kitchen's year-round efforts to help feed people in need.