Sharing Day: Bringing the Holidays Home for Dallas College Students

Dec. 5, 2025

In the rush toward the holiday break, Sharing Day offers a quiet reminder of what the holidays are truly about: caring for one another. 

Each November, Dallas College Basic Needs and Community Connections, along with campus food pantry volunteers, put together Thanksgiving food bundles that students can take home to their families to help celebrate the holiday.  

This year, the sign-up form to receive a meal was full in just four hours, showing the growing need for support during the coming holiday season.  

Shykedra Holloway was one of around 350 students who stopped by the campus food pantry on Wednesday, Nov. 19, to pick up a Sharing Day food basket and gift card. 

She says Sharing Day has been particularly helpful to her and her family following the government shutdown. 

“A lot of our benefits were affected due to the shutdown. So, it definitely helps with compensating for some of the items we may need for this holiday season,” Shykedra said. 

Tri’Ana Jackson is another student who participated in Sharing Day. As someone who is disabled, Tri’Ana said that receiving the Thanksgiving food and gift card “has been helpful for me and my family because it’s helped cut back on the cost of what we need to buy.” 

While Sharing Day happens once a year, Dallas College campus food pantries are open to students, and the community, year-round. The rising price of groceries may hit harder during the holidays, but the effects are felt throughout the year. 

Both Shykedra and Tri’Ana have used the campus food pantries outside of Sharing Day. 

“I’ve used the food pantry before when I was struggling with getting food in the house, and it’s been really helpful,” Tri’Ana said.  

In addition to campus food pantries, other resources — like our clothing closets, child care, and transportation — are there for students who may need a little extra support.  

Shykedra said that she found most of the resources helpful and appreciated that you could “make appointments just to speak with people.” 

When asked about encouraging other students to take advantage of the services available and programs like Sharing Day, Tri’Ana offered this advice: “Don’t be embarrassed or, you know, ashamed about having to use the resources; they’re there because people need them. You’re not the only one that needs them. So definitely take advantage of it.” 

Shykedra shared similar advice to her fellow students. 

“I would let them know that there’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of services that are there to help you.” 

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