Adrian, MI – At the Laura Haviland Program, the work is personal. Every day looks a little different, every student brings their own story, and every small victory matters. It is a place where relationships guide the work, where staff meet students exactly where they are, and where emotional needs are supported with just as much intention as academic ones. This Thanksgiving season, that spirit of care took on a new meaning thanks to Teacher Assistant Travis Boring.
Travis had been thinking about this idea for a while. He knew some students might not have a warm holiday meal waiting for them at home. He knew others might not have family nearby or a place to settle in and feel surrounded by people who care. That reality stuck with him. What if the program could offer them something different? What if Thanksgiving at Haviland could feel like belonging?
So he planned a gathering. Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated. Just a warm meal, a welcoming space, and an opportunity for students and staff to be together in a way that felt comforting.
For Travis, the heart of the idea was simple. He wanted students to feel cared for as people. Not just students in a classroom. Not just kids working through tough moments. People who deserve to feel valued, supported, and included. He hoped they would walk away with a sense of family, even if only for an afternoon.
When he shared the idea with staff, he hoped for some help. What he got was a team that showed up in full force. Haviland has always had a close-knit feel, and the response reflected exactly who this staff is. People jumped in to cook, set up, organize, whatever was needed. They wanted the students to feel seen and loved. They wanted to be part of something that mattered.
On the day of the gathering, it was the little moments that stood out. Students helping in the SXI rooms. Staff working side by side. Kids offering kindness to one another, even if they don’t always show it in big ways. Those are the moments that define Haviland. The quiet reminders that a program like this can give so much to young people who are carrying more than most of us will ever know.
Travis said the experience reminded him how easy it is to take the small things for granted. A warm plate of food. A chair at a shared table. Someone who notices you. Someone who invites you in. For many students, these are not small things. They are everything.
He hopes this day strengthens the relationships that make Haviland what it is. He hopes it deepens trust, builds connection, and helps students feel a little more secure walking into school each morning. More than anything, he hopes our community sees these students for who they are. Not for the challenges they face, but for the strength they show while pushing through them. They are doing their best. And at their age, that is no small thing.
In the end, the Thanksgiving gathering was not just a meal. It reflected the heart of Haviland. It was a reminder that even when resources are limited, compassion is not. And thanks to Travis’ vision and the staff’s willingness to rally around it, our students received something meaningful. A warm meal. A welcoming space. And a community that shows up for them, exactly when they need it most.