Staff and students at the Washington County Career Center enjoy a freshly prepared meal during the annual Thanksgiving luncheon on Wednesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Nearly 600 staff and students at the Washington County Career Center gathered Wednesday for the annual Thanksgiving luncheon.

The occasion has been held for more than 20 years with the idea to provide the students with a free sit-down meal.

“This is the 14th school year I’ve been here so this has preceded me,” said Superintendent Tony Huffman. “Our regular food service prepared the food for today.”

The Thanksgiving lunch included freshly cooked turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, dinner rolls, stuffing, green beans and pie. There were options for drinks like juice or sweet tea.

“This is something the students and staff look forward to every year,” he said. “It’s something that builds culture and it makes people feel good.”

Students in the Washington County Career Center’s diesel truck mechanics program find a seat during the annual Thanksgiving luncheon Wednesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

He said his favorite part about the luncheon is seeing all of the kids eat as much as they want with smiles on their faces and having a good time.

Josi Waterman is a junior in the pre-nursing program at the Career Center and said this was her first year participating in the Thanksgiving luncheon.

“My favorite part is being able to spend time with my classmates and enjoy the free food,” she said.

Waterman is a member of the student council and said she helped prepare the event that morning. During the luncheon she was tasked with helping guide her classmates to find where they needed to sit based on the program they were in.

“I’m very hungry,” she joked.

Nearly 600 staff and students enjoy a free lunch at the Washington County Career Center on Wednesday. The lunch included turkey, dinner rolls, pie, green beans, sweet tea, mashed potatoes and gravy, and stuffing. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Huffman said the process to make the event happen begins four to six weeks in advance when they have to start planning and ordering the food. The food service staff started preparations Tuesday and began cooking early Wednesday morning.

Eight cooks arrived at the school before 5:30 a.m. to begin preparing all of the Thanksgiving meals.

A few members of the food service staff also said the best part about the luncheon is being able to serve the kids and see all of their smiling faces. Many of them had been serving on the food staff for one to four years.

“These are the student life sort of things that we like to do here to make students feel good about being a student here,” said Huffman.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com

Students at the Washington County Career Center pass around drinks and fresh food at the annual Thanksgiving luncheon at the school on Wednesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

There were nearly 600 staff and students present for the Thanksgiving luncheon at the Washington County Career Center on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Washington County Career Center Superintendent Tony Huffman thanks the food service staff and student helpers for making the luncheon possible on Wednesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)