Rivier University Thanksgiving Basket Project Sets New Record

NASHUA - Rivier University’s annual Thanksgiving Basket Project has set a new all-time record, surpassing last year’s record of 304 baskets collected, with 362 baskets collected this year.

Each year, the Rivier community goes above and beyond to exceed the goal of collecting 175 Thanksgiving baskets to be distributed to local agencies during an Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service. The baskets include various Thanksgiving food items for local families in need, and each agency also receives turkeys. This year, 11 agencies gratefully collected the baskets, and were assisted by Rivier athletes and students in transporting them to agency vehicles following the service.

The agencies partnering with Rivier this year were Title One, Greater Nashua Mental Health at Community Council, Salvation Army, Harbor Homes, Keystone Hall, Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter, NH Catholic Charities, HIV/AIDS Task Force, Nashua Foundation for Oncology/Hematology, Corpus Christi Food Pantry, and Anne Marie House.

Mary Jane Silvia, director of Campus Ministry at Rivier, spoke about the continued success of this food drive at Rivier over the years.

“This is my fifth year being involved in the Thanksgiving Basket Project, and I continue to be inspired by the spirit of service and caring at Rivier,” she said.

“As we remain true to the mission of Rivier, ‘transforming hearts and minds to serve the world,’ we reflect at a very deep level – at an academic level, at a level of service, and at a level within our core curriculum – what does it mean to ask, ‘Who is my neighbor?’” said Sister Paula Marie Buley, IHM, Rivier’s President. “And what does it mean to answer that question? Our partner agencies help us realize the question and the answer, and make real to us a truism that in giving, we receive.”

“This annual Thanksgiving collection brings us together in ways that make us truly a community,” she added. “A community not only of academic outreach, teaching and learning excellence, but a community that lives what it preaches and truly answers, day to day, what it means to be neighbors.”