Food, community, Thanksgiving: Barnard celebrates annual Friendsgiving dinner
- Jan 13
- 2 min read
Access Barnard and the Student Government Association organized their annual Friendsgiving tradition, bringing together students on campus for the holidays.
Photo by Haley Scull/The Barnard Bulletin
January 13, 2026
On the evening of November 20, Access Barnard and the Barnard Student Government Association (SGA) prepared for one of Access Barnard’s most notable traditions: Friendsgiving. Students gathered on campus to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal and an evening of crafts during International Education Week.
“My favorite part of Friendsgiving is the celebratory feeling … it’s great to see students taking a break from midterms or finals prep to come enjoy being a part of the Access Barnard community and enjoy simple pleasures like crafting and jewelry making,” Valerie Monaco, Director of International Student Services (ISS) at Access Barnard, told The Barnard Bulletin. “We realize that some students’ meal plans are dwindling as well, so it’s a nice opportunity to support any food-insecure students by having a warm dinner that is something different from the dining halls.”
Friendsgiving dinner has been held annually for over five years. “Friendsgiving began before I arrived at Barnard in 2022, but it has always been a flagship program of Access Barnard. Every November, the event attracts a large number of students to relax and enjoy the Barnard community,” Monaco continued. She also mentioned that the event was recently incorporated into International Education Week, which takes place in November each year and celebrates the importance of international education and exchange. “The event is a celebration, particularly for our international student community — many of whom have never experienced American Thanksgiving before — so it’s a great opportunity for cultural exchange for them as well.”
“Access Barnard has been a supportive system I know I can always go to … for internships, events, connections, or to vent about how challenging it is to be in college,” Brianna Garcia (BC ’29) told The Bulletin. “Access Barnard continues to be a huge factor in my success at Barnard, and it’s all thanks to their dedication towards their students.”
Multiple dinner tables were set up in the Diana Center Event Oval, offering various Thanksgiving staples including turkey, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, and pumpkin pie. Access Barnard staff also placed bracelet kits on each table and supplies to decorate Heart of Dinner bags. Heart of Dinner is a local organization that addresses “food insecurity, social isolation, and loneliness among Asian American older adults living in significantly under‑resourced and underinvested communities.” The decorated bags and handwritten notes “create moments of joy, emotional connection, and nourishment that honor elders’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being.”
Arianna Walker (BC ’29) said that Friendsgiving is “a nice way to connect with other Barnard students, and is also a nice break from the dining hall food.” Walker expressed that her favorite part of the event was “definitely the community that you are surrounded with.”
Students from Barnard and Columbia lingered in the Diana Event Oval, enjoying food and conversations with the Access Barnard community. The annual Access Barnard Friendsgiving highlighted the strong community at Barnard and the importance of relaxation during the holiday season.
