By Jaycie Doerr, NEWS3 Reporter
MACOMB, Illinois (NEWS3) — Thanksgiving break is happening at Western Illinois University, and dorms close at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18.
Students staying on campus will have to find their own meals because the dining halls will be closed during the break.
Local business owner William “Bill” Waller of Battleground LGS, LLC knows what it is like being away from loved ones for the holidays. Waller spent 25 years in the military and often could not go home for the holidays.
“What I would do is go to somebody’s place or after I got married we’d invite people that didn’t have the opportunity to go home to come to our place to eat,” Waller said. “I bring that tradition with me.”
On Thanksgiving day, Battleground will be open to anyone needing a place to land. Waller will be cooking turkey and ham while he asks guests to bring any dishes they can to the potluck.
“As a part of the community, we believe that the students here that don’t have the opportunity to go home should have a place to come to have Thanksgiving dinner,” Waller said. Visit the Battleground LGS, LLC Facebook page to register for the event. Waller asks that everyone interested be registered by Sunday, Nov. 20.