For many University of Oregon students living in the residence halls on campus, the Thanksgiving break is a time to get away from a cramped dorm room and chow down on some of mom’s home cooking.

However, for those students that have traveled to the UO from across the country — or perhaps from across the world — going home for four days right before the end of the term just isn’t feasible.

That’s where the UO branch of the National Residence Hall Honorary comes in.

For the third year in a row, they’re hosting a traditional Thanksgiving feast for any residence hall resident staying on campus for the long weekend, in an effort to make the classic American holiday a little less lonely and a little merrier for everyone.

“We hope the students who come feel like they matter,” said T.J. LaGrow, vice president of administration for the National Residence Hall Honorary. “For a lot of people, Thanksgiving is a time where people go home and spend time with family, but for others who don't have the opportunity to go home and (who) stay on campus, we wanted to create an event — like a big dinner — that helps the residents not feel left out.”

The event will boast music, gluten-free food options and more than 150 people — significantly more mouths to feed than in years past.

Residence hall students and their guests will fill the Great Room of the Global Scholars Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. for not only a feast of all the Thanksgiving staples — such as turkey, stuffing, yams, green bean casserole and all the other fixings — but a warm place to celebrate Thanksgiving together and with members of the community.

 “We want every resident to have a great experience during the break and we think having the Thanksgiving dinner will help make the break better,” LaGrow said. “In the end, it's because the residents matter.”

— By Nathaniel Brown, Public Affairs Communications