• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
  • Living
  • Thanksgiving
  • Good News

University of Iowa professor goes viral after offering to deliver Thanksgiving meals to students

1:08
Professor makes Thanksgiving feast for students
ABCNews.com
ByAngeline Jane Bernabe
November 23, 2020, 3:17 AM

With many college students planning on spending Thanksgiving away from their family this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, one professor at the University of Iowa offered to make and deliver Thanksgiving meals to those who need it.

Last week, Dr. Elizabeth Pearce, a communications professor at the University of Iowa, told her students in an email that she will make extra portions of her Thanksgiving dinner and drop it off for them if they need a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal this year.

Related Articles

MORE: Teen who met grandma from accidental text shares Thanksgiving plans after COVID-19 loss

Editor’s Picks

Thanksgiving's trendiest dessert is the pumpkin roll: Here’s how to make it

  • Nov 12, 2019

Thanksgiving guests will love these citrus and herb sweet potatoes more than turkey

  • Nov 17, 2020

"I know this has been a difficult time for a lot of you," Pearce wrote in her email, which has been shared on Twitter by one of her students. "I don't want anyone to feel alone at Thanksgiving, or to miss out on a home-cooked family dinner."

VIDEO: Professor makes Thanksgiving feast for students
ABCNews.com

She even told her students that she'd be willing to drop off up to three meals if any of her students had roommates or a significant other.

Related Articles

MORE: Zoom lifts video call time limits to celebrate virtual Thanksgiving

Since Pearce's student shared her email online, Pearce's kind gesture has gone viral, reaching nearly a million people online.

"I think this just touched people. Not because it's a big gesture or anything great, but just because it was just a little ray of sunshine in kind of a dark time," Pearce told "Good Morning America."

Related Topics

  • Thanksgiving
  • Good News

Editor’s Picks

Thanksgiving's trendiest dessert is the pumpkin roll: Here’s how to make it

  • Nov 12, 2019

Thanksgiving guests will love these citrus and herb sweet potatoes more than turkey

  • Nov 17, 2020

Up Next in Living—

What to know about the high school 'senior assassin' water gun game police departments are warning about

April 17, 2026

Trader Joe's customers may be eligible for money after $7.4M settlement over receipt data

April 17, 2026

Zookeeper shares update on Punch the monkey, whether he has a girlfriend

April 17, 2026

6-week-old kitten rescued from vat of glue is named Elmer

April 16, 2026

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News