How To: Friendsgiving on Campus

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A Friendsgiving is a wonderful tradition to begin with your chosen family. It’s a chance for you to take a break from the academics, get together with your closest friends for a meal comprised of something other than dining hall pizza. Preparing a Friendsgiving can seem difficult or daunting, especially on a student budget, but keep reading for some tips on how to make the most of your college Friendsgiving. 

 

1. Share the wealth and the work!

An entire meal is a lot for one person, especially a Thanksgiving meal. Divide the work by the food and supplies you’ll need so that each person is bringing at least one thing.

To keep it all organized, consider using a Google Doc or a shared Note. Not only can everyone contribute ideas of what to bring, but everyone can sign up for what they want to take care of by writing their name next to the item in the shared list.

Screenshot of an iPhone note of a Friendsgiving checklist

2. Keep it simple!

The tradition is more about your friendship than the food. Keep it simple and have fun with it! Don’t feel obligated to make the traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken or make some lunch-meat sandwiches. Microwave mashed potatoes with a little butter can taste just as good as ones you spent 20 minutes mashing in a dorm kitchen.

This shopping list/budget shows how you can create a meal for 10 for less than $50 and the most cooking you’ll need to do is push the buttons on the microwave.

Sample Shopping List:

Total: $48.61 + tax

 

3. Consider your space

Depending upon how many people you have, your dorm may be a little small for a Friendsgiving. At the same time, Levin might not be the right vibes. Consider some of these great campus spots:

  • South Hall, 1st Floor Lounge
  • Ulman Hall, 1st Floor Lounge
  • Centennial Hall, Basement Game Room(s)
  • Samuel Hall, First Floor Lounge
  • Cooke Hall, First Floor Lounge

Don’t forget to take these into consideration when picking your location:

  • Are there likely to be people studying in this location on the night of our Friendsgiving?
  • Is there enough seating for everyone?
  • If we’re cooking, is the kitchen close by or will we need to transport all the cooked food to our location?
  • Is there enough table space to store all the food and to eat at?

 

4. The food’s important, but what about the supplies?

Everyone’s favorite part is the food, but you’ll still need utensils and plates. Some friends in your group may have some, but you’ll likely need more. Disposable is easiest because everyone can just throw it away when they’re done and no one gets stuck doing all the dishes. Here’s what we anticipate you’ll need:

  • Forks
  • Knives
  • Spoons
  • Plates
  • Cups
  • Napkins

Be sure to keep in mind, if you’re cooking anything, you’ll also want to bring some hand towels to put under any hot dishes on the tables. 

 

5. Set the atmosphere

While a campus building isn’t always the best place to feel the party vibes, having playlist with all your favorites is a great way to get the party started. Consider creating a shared playlist on Spotify, so you can all add songs.

Or, check out this Spotify playlist, which has music for every taste!

Something as simple as plates with turkeys on them or some inexpensive decorations from the dollar store can also make a big difference in adding a homey touch to your table.

 

Friendsgiving is a time to bring together those family members you’ve added since beginning your time at DelVal. A Friendsgiving meal doesn’t have to be elaborate, large or even resemble a traditional Thanksgiving meal. All that matters is gathering your loved ones and making memories together.

 

Hosting a Friendsgiving on campus? Share photos and tag us @delawarevalleyuniversity or #DelValCampusLife