Two local educational institutions joined forces to make the Thanksgiving holiday brighter for more than 1,000 people.

Ivy Tech Community College South Bend-Elkhart and the South Bend Empowerment Zone provided more than 250 meal packages for students attending Ivy Tech and South Bend Empowerment Zone Schools; Navarre Middle School, Coquillard, Harrison, Warren, and Wilson Elementary School. Each package included all the Thanksgiving favorites for a family of four—turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and dinner rolls.

Cultivate Food Rescue provided $1,400 in food donations for the project. Additionally, Katharos Catering in Niles prepared the food and provided donations.

Students received the meals on Tuesday and Wednesday this week utilizing a contactless delivery method.