Friendsgiving: It’s All About Friends and Giving

Middle School and Upper School BRIDGE co-sponsored the communal dinner, now held in Kraft Dining Hall. On Thursday, the large space was nearly full to capacity. As the 5:30 start time approached, dishes of every description, toted by families and professional community members, started to appear. Most participants had prepared specialties tied to their food traditions and heritage, and the meal reflects the diversity of the Rivers community. 

Foil pans and other containers were arrayed on three long tables, arranged in a U shape for maximum efficiency. The variety and quantity of food was staggering, ranging from arroz con pollo to Ethiopian beef tibs, from chow foon to jerk chicken, from dumplings (at least three kinds!) to empanadas. Long lines soon formed as students, parents, and professional community members waited patiently to fill their plates. Many discovered that one plate wasn’t large enough to contain a taste of every tempting dish. 

As the meal progressed, the US BRIDGE leaders—Cailyn Kim ’25, Leah Jin ’25, and Esme Asaad ’26—took to the Kraft stage to share a few thoughts about Friendsgiving. There are two traditions that go along with the event, they said. (On this particular Friendsgiving, there were actually three, as the crowd launched into a spirited rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Andrew Ho ’25.)

The first tradition involves giving guests the opportunity to tell the crowd about the dish they brought. Marcos Ramos ’25 spoke about his family’s arroz con pollo, reflecting their Puerto Rican heritage. “It’s just simple ingredients, but they combine to make a really good dish,” he said. Language Department faculty member Zaidy Barreto said she had brought two forms of flan that she and her mother enjoy as comfort food. Eden Hossaena ’27’s family had contributed two Ethiopian dishes, tibs and dabo bread. “The significant thing about tibs,” said Hossaena, “is that it’s delicious.”

The evening is about fun and food, but it’s also an occasion to give thanks. For the second tradition, attendees were asked to share something for which they feel grateful. Some said they were grateful to try new foods; others mentioned that they were appreciative of spending time with family—and with their extended Rivers community. Math faculty member Victoria Mizzi expressed gratitude to the BRIDGE student leaders for their role in orchestrating the evening. And the room gave a standing ovation to Equity and Engagement program assistant Debbie Argueta, celebrating her last Rivers Friendsgiving as she looks toward retirement at the end of the school year. 
 
As Henderson closed the speaking portion of the evening, she recounted how much the event has grown over the years. She noted that, as a sort of insurance policy against a shortage of dishes, she’d purchased a couple of trays of lo mein—a move that, she now conceded, was wholly unnecessary, given the vast array of delicious fare provided by community members. “Next year,” she said, “remind me not to order any extra food.”