The 9th annual Ramsgiving, organized by Carolina Dining Services (CDS), brought the UNC-Chapel Hill community together on November 21 for a Thanksgiving celebration filled with appreciation and generosity. Held in Chase Dining Hall, the highly anticipated annual event provided a warm meal for students unable to return home for the holiday. In all, 2,345 guests were served during the evening gathering.
Beyond bringing the students together, Ramsgiving also allowed participants to prepare bagged lunches for those in need in North Carolina. For CDS Director Christen Carawan, the event embodies personal and professional pride. “Personally, it’s an annual tradition I look forward to every year,” she said. “It’s an event where we appreciate the dining community we’ve cultivated while creating meals for those outside our university.”
Organizing an event of this magnitude requires extensive coordination within CDS and with various campus and community partners. Nearly 100 CDS employees were scheduled to prepare for Ramsgiving and manage the post-event cleanup. In addition, CDS leadership, interns, and volunteers from Brown Bag Ministries also collaborated to ensure the event’s success.
Chef Darelle Bey described the preparation process as a three-stage effort. “The first stage is to meet as a leadership team and review notes from previous years, finalize menus, and determine what needs to be purchased,” said Chef Bey. “The second stage, which is probably the most important, is FOOD PREP, which starts three days prior. The third stage happens the day before the event when I meet with supervisors to discuss expectations and address any concerns.”
With the tenth Ramsgiving set for next year, Ramsgiving will soon mark a decade of connection and gratitude that continues to resonate throughout the UNC-Chapel Hill community each year. “Seeing the smiles and excitement on the students’ faces makes the countless hours of preparation well worth it,” reflected Chef Bey.
Ramsgiving 2024
