Panthers dish up Thanksgiving lunch

FIU football kicked off the holiday season with local senior citizens in an afternoon of dancing, laughing, turkey and giving back.

Residents of Palmer House retirement community across from Modesto A. Maidique Campus were grateful for their guests at this year’s Thanksgiving luncheon: members of the FIU football team. Several players passed not footballs, but trays filled with turkey and mashed potatoes to more than 50 local senior citizens on Nov. 24.

Despite the language barrier – most of the seniors spoke only Spanish and the players English – the two chatted and enjoyed lunch together. In between serving flan as dessert, the players took time to take photos and twirl the ladies around the dance floor.

This is the fifth year FIU’s student-athletes have served the residents of Palmer House Thanksgiving lunch. The football team jumped at the chance this year hoping to give back to the community most of them grew up in.

“The residents look forward to this event throughout the year,” said Anitere Flores, director of FIU’s Community and Civic Partnerships. “FIU’s strong commitment to giving back to the community is visible in the faces of these young men.  The students enjoy spending time with the area’s seniors, and the residents enjoy having some fun with FIU’s best.

“They are already talking about next year’s event.”

Check out the fun had by all in the video below: