For high school seniors celebrating Thanksgiving this week, applying to college is bound to be on their minds. Which school has the right major? Will they fit in? Do their values align? With an undergraduate education emphasizing social and economic justice and the common good, Warren Wilson College is using its application process to provide meals for Western North Carolina residents in need this Thanksgiving.

Anyone applying to Warren Wilson College from Nov. 19-26 will help feed someone in WNC living with HIV, AIDS or in home hospice care. The College will donate the equivalent of one Thanksgiving meal to Loving Food Resources, a nonprofit based in Asheville, for every application received during the eight-day period. It’s a partnership that helps prospective students live Warren Wilson College values now.

“As the more than 50,000 hours of service our students contribute to WNC each year indicate, Warren Wilson College cares about this community,” said Janelle Holmboe, vice president for enrollment and marketing. “We launched this Thanksgiving initiative two years ago, and the response from applicants really made a difference in the lives of WNC residents. This initiative has become another Warren Wilson College tradition because our prospective students understand who we are and want to be a part of making a difference.”

That sentiment was echoed last year by a prospective student who said, “I love the idea of this campaign, and it definitely cements my belief that Warren Wilson is the kind of school I would be proud to attend.”

Loving Food Resources, which supports 18 WNC counties, is a Warren Wilson community partner. The College’s Center for Community Engagement regularly pairs students with the organization to work with customers, weigh and carry boxes, and assist with cleanup. The food pantry is also a site visited during the annual Warren Wilson College Service Day, which focuses on food security and supporting community partners to address hunger and access to nutritious and sustainably produced food.

By applying to Warren Wilson College before midnight Sunday, Nov. 26, applicants are immediately part of a campus culture dedicated to making a difference in the world, according to Holmboe.

“If you’re planning to apply to Warren Wilson, I suggest you do it this week. Give thanks and give back at the same time,” she said.

In addition to the primary Warren Wilson College application requirements – high school GPA, personal statement, letters of recommendation and community service record – prospective students can elect to submit an essay. Applicants may also choose whether or not they wish to submit their SAT or ACT exam scores as a part of their application.

To apply, please visit https://www.warren-wilson.edu/apply.