Andrews school brings town together for a thankful meal

  • Many people from the Andrews Valley enjoyed a pre-Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 27 in the Andrews Middle School cafeteria. Photo by Samantha Sinclair
    Many people from the Andrews Valley enjoyed a pre-Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 27 in the Andrews Middle School cafeteria. Photo by Samantha Sinclair

        Andrews – Andrews Middle School opened its doors to the community on Nov. 27 for a Thanksgiving meal.
        “This is just a tiny way for us to give back for all they do for us,” Principal Lance Bristol said.
        He said he also enjoyed seeing students and their families outside of the classroom.
        Bristol and guidance counselor Susan Guffey got the idea for a community Thanksgiving last year as they were raising funds to continue to provide lunches for students at the school. They got more people on board, and Cherokee County allowed the school to be open for the event.
        For this year’s event, the school raised $3,000 to provide 500 meals. Bristol was grateful for support from Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Bryson City, Chick-fil-A in Blairsville, Ga., Andrews Cruise Night
    for the Kids and Manna FoodBank in Asheville.
        Several teachers volunteered on their day off to help serve food along with representatives from Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters, State Employees Credit Union and Granieri’s Italian Restaurant. Beaver Creek Church provided desserts, while Bertha Guffey provided centerpieces for all the tables. Door prizes were available thanks to Barbara El-Khouri and Nancy Taylor.
        Within the first hour, 100 families, elected officials and other community members came together to eat chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, green beans, a roll, chips and dessert.
        “It’s a really good thing,” Alderman Steve Jordan said. “It helps the community. You can come here to eat if you’ve got money or you don’t got money.”
        Jody Bateman brought his family out to support the school and Bristol.
        “He’s a great guy,” Bateman said. “He’s done a lot for this school.”
        Both Bristol and Guffey were happy to see community come out and enjoy the meal.
        “We believe the school is at the very heart of the community,” Guffey said. “Food always brings people together.”
        Leftovers were given to Valley View Care & Rehabilitation Center in Andrews and the Hulburt-Johnson Friendship House homeless shelter in Murphy.