By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Students, parents and faculty members said they were thankful for everything from family members to hermit crabs Nov. 16 during Meadow View Elementary School’s annual Thanksgiving lunch feast.

Nearly 800 Meadow View Elementary School students and their family members enjoyed dishes such as “grateful green beans, sharing sweet potato casserole and gobble gravy” during the lunch, which was the second Thanksgiving lunch of the week at the school.

“Yesterday, we served first and third grade, and today we are serving kindergarten and second grade,” said MVES Assistant Principal Rachea Simms. “We usually serve about 800 people each day.”

Simms said the Thanksgiving lunches typically bring more family members to the school than any other event of the year, including parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

“We try to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy lunch together,” Simms said, noting she was thankful for her health, friends, family and children at MVES.

Kids and their parents also took time during the lunch to share what they were thankful for.

For MVES student Callie Weathers, Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for her family, God and her exotic pets.

“I’m thankful for my hermit crabs and my gecko,” Weathers said with a laugh.

Weathers’ mother, Kimberly, said she was thankful for her daughter, who is the first girl on her husband’s side of the family in 83 years, she said.

MVES student Alexa Hawkins said she was thankful for her parents. Her father, Frank, said he was thankful for his family, the love of God and his community.

Student Conor Reid surprised his mother, Emily, when he mentioned only “family and friends” on his Thanksgiving list.

“I’m thankful he didn’t say video games,” Emily Reid said with a laugh.

David Kytle and his daughter, Megan, were thankful for the chance they had to spend time together.

“I don’t get a chance to come eat lunch with her very often, so I am thankful to be here,” David Kytle said.

The lunch also gave MVES teacher Lakesha Fleming, her husband, Paul, and their son, Joshua, a chance to come together.

“I am thankful for God, my family and friends and this school,” Lakesha Fleming said.

MVES cafeteria employee Laura Hamrick said she was thankful for the blessings she enjoys all year.

“I am thankful for all the kids we have here, and all my co-workers” Hamrick said. “They make my day every day.”