Each year, faculty and members of the Ames community reach out to people who aren’t going home for Thanksgiving.

Robert Horton, professor of entomology, and Karen Piconi, temporary English instructor, are two faculty members who make a habit of inviting students into their homes.

Horton said he and his wife Nanet have been inviting students, visiting scientists and anyone they know who is away from home during Thanksgiving to dinner with their family for about 10 years.

“We make them a part of what I think is a great holiday, and we all give thanks for what we have in life,” Horton said.

He said he and his wife try to provide a good environment, good food to eat and plenty of talking and sharing.

Although the number of guests the Hortons have entertained has ranged quite a bit over the years, Horton said having 20 to 25 visitors is “real common.”

“We tell them if they know somebody else, too, that’s okay, they can bring them, and lots of times people do have somebody else [who doesn’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving],” Horton said.

He said his family discussed inviting others to the celebration and decided it would be beneficial for everyone.

“We have a sense that it’s really good to do this, to be hospitable and open,” Horton said.

He said they also feel they should have some private time together, so along with the big meal, they set aside some time for just the family members.

Piconi said she invites students from her classes who aren’t going home for Thanksgiving to join her family for dinner.

“In the past, I have also invited several Latino and Filipino students,” Piconi said.

She said she invited the Filipino students through the ISU Filipino Association. Her husband teaches Spanish, so the couple invited Latino students from his classes and also through people they knew who spoke Spanish.

“The most we’ve had was probably 24, and the least was about 12,” she said.

Piconi said the celebration is about community building.

“We always say grace, and we spend three or four hours at the dinner table,” she said. “Part of our mission is to extend our family beyond the immediate members to the world. That’s just who we are — for us, family doesn’t end with blood.”

Jane Edwards, program coordinator for the Office of International Students and Scholars, said her office helps bring students and community members together for Thanksgiving.

She said usually 30 to 35 international students are invited into homes in the community through the office.

“It usually works out [depending on] the time the student is available and the time the family is having dinner,” Edwards said. “Sometimes families preference students from different parts of the world because they traveled there.”

Edwards said anyone who wants to invite an international student to Thanksgiving dinner can call her at 294-0378.

She said she needs to know when the person is planning dinner, their address and phone number and the number of students they would like to invite.

“At the same time, students are applying, and I find out when they are available and any dietary restrictions they may have,” Edwards said.

She said she will start matching students with families early this week.

Edwards said hosts and guests alike find the experience enjoyable.

“Students always appreciate the opportunity to be in U.S. homes and to get to know people outside of ISU, and the food is always wonderful,” Edwards said. “From the host’s perspective, I have heard a lot of nice comments from people who have learned about other parts of the world.”