Thanksgiving is often seen as a time for gratitude and generosity and this week, Creating American and International Relationships (CAIR) brought that spirit to Oakland University. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the student organization hosted a Thanksgiving luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring a discussion on the holiday’s history with retired OU professor Richard Stamps and a conversation about student support resources with Charlie Dimmock, manager of the Golden Grizzlies Pantry.
The event blended cultural education with community service, offering a traditional Thanksgiving meal—including halal and vegetarian options—and collecting donations for the campus food pantry.
Natali Salaytah, CAIR president and graduate assistant to the International Students and Scholars Office, said the luncheon revives a tradition once hosted by OU’s Global Engagement Office.
“The main purpose of CAIR is to enrich international students’ experiences here in Michigan and a part of that is to provide opportunities to participate in uniquely American traditions such as a family-style Thanksgiving meal,” Salaytah said.
Inclusivity was a priority for the group.
“Being mindful of dietary restrictions and providing food options for all our members and guests is an important cultural competency that supports inclusion and accessibility,” Salaytah added.
Stamps spoke about the cultural significance of Thanksgiving and the contributions of Native Americans to the holiday meal.
“Whenever you go to a new country, if you want to fit in, it’s valuable for you to learn something about their culture, their language, their history,” he said.
He also addressed misconceptions about what we consider traditional Thanksgiving foods.
“Most Americans have no clue where all of our good Thanksgiving foods came from,” Stamps said. “If you take away all the Native American things—the potatoes, the tomatoes, the pumpkins—you really miss something.”
The luncheon also spotlighted the Golden Grizzlies Pantry, which provides food, hygiene products and clothing to students in need.
“The pantry is detrimental to improving food security on campus,” Dimmock said. “We try to mitigate financial burdens so students can focus on their studies.”
Dimmock noted that donations are especially critical this year. “SNAP benefits were cut off during the government shutdown, and we saw a lot of people come into our pantry that we had never seen before,” he said.
For many international students, the event was an opportunity to connect and learn. Raina, a student taking supplementary classes through the English as a Second Language Institute (ESL), said she attended to improve her language skills and meet new people.
“I really enjoy this campus life,” she said. “I like to go to the gym after class and make new friends—it helps improve my English.”
Joan, a Brazilian student studying English as a second language, agreed.
“Events like this help build a stronger sense of community,” he said. “The campus connects with all cultures around the world and that’s really good.”
Salaytah hopes students left with more than a full plate.
“We want international students to create core, positive memories of their time in the USA,” she said. “We hope all our attendees can really connect with the spirit of Thanksgiving in celebrating cross-cultural friendships and harmony.”
