Central College's Season of Gratitude to Bring Service Work to Surrounding Community
Pella, IA (10/28/2026) — Central College students, faculty and staff will be performing acts of service throughout campus and Pella for the college's Season of Gratitude.
The Season of Gratitude is an annual tradition at Central, stretching from the end of October until early December. This year, members of the Central community will focus on providing winter necessities for those in need, while spreading kindness to our neighbors on and off campus. It all aligns with Central's A World of Good campaign, which strives to improve the world around us through goodwill and charity.
There will be two service days at the Pella Community Food Shelf: 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 and 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9. Interested parties are asked to meet at the Gaass Hall parking lot.
Ahead of Thanksgiving celebrations, Central is also hosting a food drive from November 16-20. Various drop-off locations will be available throughout campus. The donations will be collected by KNIA/KRLS Radio and taken to the Food Shelf.
As with past years, a pop-up coat closet will also be accessible at the Maytag Student Center. Students and others in need of a coat or jacket for the upcoming cold weather are welcome to take as they need.
In the spirit of the giving season, anyone wishing to help support Central's mission of making college affordable for all students can make a gift to the Journey Scholarship Fund on Thankful Thursday, Nov. 19.
Other events throughout the end of the semester include card writing days for pediatric hospitals, caroling and cocoa at a local nursing home, creating sleeping mats for those facing homelessness and other pop-up events to give thanks across campus.
"Our students are always putting others before themselves and taking part in the Season of Gratitude is a natural progression of that mindset," says Allyson Mann, assistant dean of students and 2016 Central graduate. "This will be a heartwarming way to finish the semester and motivate us all to continue to lead with compassion into the holiday season and new year."
Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private college known for its active student body, academic rigor and athletics success. Ranked the No. 2 Best Value College in Iowa by Niche.com, Central offers a learning environment with supportive educators committed to intellectual engagement, personal growth, career readiness and civic involvement. Founded in 1853 and shaped by its Christian heritage, the college of 1,100 students participates in NCAA Division III athletics. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.
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Central College will celebrate a season of gratitude in November with service projects doing a good in the world.