MOUNT VERNON – The Knox Learning Center celebrated its largest Thanksgiving dinner ever on Nov. 21, the last school day before the holiday break.
“We served about 200 meals, dine-in or carryout, to our students and their families and our staff,” said art teacher Kim Aritonovich, who headed up the preparations. “We’ve done this for about 15 years and this was our largest.”
The Learning Center is an alternative school operated by the Knox Educational Service Center (ESC) in the former Mount Vernon West Elementary School. It serves K-12 students from area districts who have difficulty learning in a traditional school environment.
Aritonovich and other staff members prepared the meal, assisted by students. The menu included turkey, homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn stuffing and desserts.
ESC Superintendent Dr. Timm Mackley said the annual event is a special time.
“Our Thanksgiving dinner is a cherished tradition at the Learning Center,” he said. “It is an opportunity for our students, their families and our staff to come together to share fellowship and a wonderful meal.”
Aritonovich expressed the Learning Center’s appreciation to local businesses that contributed to the dinner. They include:
– Lanning’s Foods, turkeys
– Baker’s IGA, six dozen eggs and other ingredients for noodles
– Southside Diner, mashed potatoes
– Bob Evans Restaurant, cookies