A student organization, named Sol, was working on their Thanksgiving community service project. Sol, along with the collaborating clubs SSEASU, BSU, HOSA, NHS, Key, and Stainability collected foods like turkey, ham, corn, mash potatoes, cranberries and other ingredients that make up a typical Thanksgiving dinner. This also includes alumni who had once been a part of SOL at LVA. They have set up 20 boxes to give to 20 families who are in need and were adopted by SOL for this project. They delivered the boxes to 16 different locations to each of these families at 7:00 a.m. on November 26, 2025.
This community service has been a longstanding tradition of 14 years, a highlight to Sol’s members. Because of the hardworking efforts SOL members put into this tradition, SOL has accomplished being able to feed over 101 families in the local Las Vegas community. Byron Vaca, a past vice president alumni from SOL says: “…It’s one of the biggest events that SOL does, and it just shows how much [of the] community we are able to impact with one student club.”
Sol was able to pack 20 boxes to deliver to 20 families. In doing so, it meant the members themselves actively participated in donating food and bringing as much as they could in order to exceed the amount they needed to donate. In theory, it would allow for these families to have food for much longer than Thanksgiving.
Rafael Castellon, a current E-Board member of Sol, says: “This food we are supplying can help them go past Thanksgiving, and hopefully we can even reach Christmas. We try to give extra food so this can last them longer than the day we’re trying to provide.”
Besides the food, SOL members also share the idea that it helps for the families to have hope and inspiration. Katherine Ochoa is a SOL E-board member, who expressed that this service has an impact on the families by increasing their motivation. She explains, “I think the impact of knowing someone is doing you this huge favor, [causing them to have] a wonderful Thanksgiving and create beautiful memories. And I hope that motivates them.”
Another member of SOL has a different perspective on the long term effects of this service. Adan Arenas believes that these families can realize that they can rely and trust their communities. Arenas says, “I think the families will understand that there’s always a community that can help them, and there’s always a support system. I think that’s something all families should recognize, especially the families that are struggling in these times. It’s just important to know that they have people that they can lean back on.”
Many of the students believe that the tradition of this project is important because it serves the ability for SOL members to give back towards their communities. Arenas states: “It brings a sense of community within our school and our entire city. This tradition is just really important because we need to realize that some families are not as fortunate as us.”
While following into communities, the members of SOL elaborates that when they are actively participating in helping the Las Vegas community, that it benefits themselves too. Ochoa says: “It helps us personally become more social and create these beautiful connections and meet new people; and really get out there and have an understanding of the world.”
Being able to look past what is happening in our personal lives and look towards where there are bigger issues to be seen is what Castellon believes is highly important. “I believe students benefit from helping the community by caring about something greater than themselves. Often, teenagers are only caring about what’s happening in their life. But once we take a look and realize all the craziness that’s happening around us, we grow and we become better people,” Castellon shares.
Arenas shares a familiar opinion with Castellon, stating: “It makes the student feel really good about doing something really good. It helps the student become more proactive and be more attentive to what is occurring in your community.”
Along with the ability to connect with others while participating in these events, SOL members believe that it can inspire LVA students who are not in the club.
Vaca describes how he thinks events like these can be beneficial towards students when they come to the idea that they have a lot of power that can be used to help those around them. “I believe it’s integral for students to be able to understand how they can impact their communities. It honestly shows them a lot about themselves; and how much power each person has and how they can impact their local communities.” Vaca continues elaborating on how he feels it can inspire students at the core of LVA: “It inspires our student body and inspires our fellow peers to work together and figure out how to contribute in ways they didn’t think [were] possible.”
Ochoa states inspiring other students can simply happen by recognizing how SOL members interact with each other, while observing the good SOL gives towards the Las Vegas community. “I think it can help inspire them, not only by helping our community, but also the beautiful friendships and relationships we create through this. I really think SOL is like a huge, beautiful family. We can get together, provide for our community, and still have fun.”
While SOL members grow up and graduate from LVA, there is a remaining connection between students who are contemporary members, and those who are alumni. Castellon, states: “This tradition shows a precedence within our members and a precedent with our members after they leave.” Castellon continues to explain the dynamic of SOL members towards the Thanksgiving drive after and during their club term. “This will continue to be a tradition, and hopefully always be a tradition because we want to continue to provide for the families that need it,” Castellon finalizes. Furthermore, there is another similarity within alumni and the current club members, and that is the memories that they receive.
Vaca recalls a moment when participating in the Thanksgiving drive: “I remember one year when I was delivering boxes, one of the kids of the family came up to me and gave me a drawing of a turkey, and just said ‘thank you so much.’ And the mom, you could tell she had a soft smile and almost tears in her eyes. It was such a comforting moment to see how these families are able to be blessed for a day.”
Ochoa has a similar experience. She recalls, “It was last year when we delivered our Thanksgiving box. The kid had made us a Thanksgiving card from scratch, like they drew a little turkey, and then wrote us a letter. And it was so silly, because you could tell it was them; the grammar was all wrong, but it was beautiful reading it. They were very thankful, even though [they were] so young.”
“By the time I get here, and do the whole thing, I get reminded why this is my favorite thing every year,” Ochoa finalizes.
Overall, the Thanksgiving drive brings many memories from the past, and will continue to create memories in the future. The SOL Thanksgiving tradition will continue as long as there is a community to support.
