News Article

November 22, 2008 --- Honoring soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, recreating a streetscape of downtown Fort Myers, a “Barn of Blessings,”  Pioneer Covered Wagon’s and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are just a few of the highly creative and artistic Thanksgiving “Baskets” created and donated by students and staff at Edison State College this year. 

A long standing tradition at Edison State College, creating innovative and festive Thanksgiving “Baskets” in a friendly competitive atmosphere is something the staff and students look forward to each year.

Just a few highlights of the 32 “Baskets” donated this year:

A military truck fully loaded with food items and accessories for Thanksgiving. The truck is a tribute to the sons of two Edison Sate College employees currently serving our country…one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.   Army Specialist Dan Hannum is on his first tour in Afghanistan and is a graduate of Edison State College (ESC) and FGCU. His mother, Phyllis Hannum works in the ESC finance office. Dale Polheus, ESC facilities management, has a son who is serving his 3^rd tour of duty in Iraq. 

The Latin-American Student Association took pictures of Bay Street in downtown Fort Myers and then recreated the street out of cardboard and completed the scene with a Thanksgiving Day parade of turkeys bearing food.

The “Barn of Blessings” is filled with tubs of food, thanksgiving dinner accessories and personal blessings from the members of the Lee Campus Para-Legal Club. Coordinated by an Edison State student whose family would have gone without Thanksgiving dinner when she was just four years old if it was not for the generosity of others, she now considers it a blessing to be able to bring the joy of a Thanksgiving dinner to others who may otherwise go without.

In addition to an abundance of food and gift certificates for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, many of the “Baskets” include toys, candlestick holders, table linens, specialty desserts and even theatre tickets.

Edison State College Thanksgiving “Baskets” will be on display at the Lee Campus, Taeni Hall (Building S), room 117, through Friday, November 21. 

Beginning Monday, November 24, the Thanksgiving “Baskets” will be distributed to families of Edison State students. 

Media contact:

Pamela Cox-Nulman, APR

239.489.9207 ( 0 )

239.405.0196 ( c )

email:  pnulman@edison.edu