Thanksgiving may be a time for family and friends, but not everyone is so lucky as to be able to do that for the holidays. Luckily, college students can find a cornucopia of options that will keep them in the holiday spirit!

Vegetarian Options
If you're not a fan of gobbling down turkey on Thanksgiving, no need to worry! There are lots of vegetarian options of which to take advantage. For instance, the Triangle Vegetarian Society hosts an event each year. At a restaurant in Durham, NC, you'll find the Society gathering to enjoy raffles, fine dining, and a fun event. The event includes a gourmet meal with Mediterranean influences.

Similarly, the Vegetarian Society of DC will be hosting their own meal on Thanksgiving Day. This event includes a meal with some holiday staples, like mashed potatoes, vegan stuffing, cranberry sauce, and of course some tofu. There's also vegan pumpkin pie available. After the meal, participants will be able to socialize, learn from some non-profit organizations about their work, and have a chance to win door prizes and raffles.

These events are not restricted to vegetarians only. But don't expect to chow down on any real turkeys!

Volunteering and Restaurant Dining
In the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, students can volunteer their services at Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar and even enjoy a meal themselves. The restaurant plans to open its doors to those in need this holiday season for the seventh Thanksgiving in a row. The restaurant serves many guests from 11:30 AM to 2:45 PM and then sit down for their very own celebratory meal. Chef and Owner John Howie expects a record number of 600 guests this year. 

"As I was preparing Thanksgiving dinner seven years ago for my family, I asked my wife if this felt like we were truly being thankful for what we had." says Chef Howie. "We discussed if this was really helping our children to be more thankful. That's when I came up with the idea of serving needy families on Thanksgiving. We started the following year and it has grown into a great family and restaurant tradition that not only helps those in need, but encourages those who volunteer."

There are also many events around campuses, sponsored by residence halls and campus organizations. All you have to do is a little research and you'll have a great holiday meal, filled with cheer and exciting traditions.

Largest On-Campus Gobble Fest
Ohio State University is one of the few colleges to host a special Thanksgiving celebration for those still on campus during the traditional family-based gobble fest. According to reports, the event averages more than 1,000 attendees, including a large majority of out-of-state and international students. The gathering dates back to the early 1990s and is an important display of the school's commitment to students, says Kevin Harty, International Programs liasion, in an article in The Lantern. Volunteers help with the dinner, which features all the traditional dressings like turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more.

The semester's almost over. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some turkey or tofurkey this Thanksgiving!

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