November 20, 2025 – Stone Ridge, NY — SUNY Ulster students will head into the Thanksgiving holiday with full hearts and full plates, thanks to an extraordinary gift from Darlings Roadhouse, a beloved Tillson restaurant known for its warm atmosphere, soulful cooking, and community support.
Darlings is providing 100 fully prepared Thanksgiving dinners; each serving will feed a family of four. The restaurant will distribute meals to students in SUNY Ulster’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and New Start program, and then to Pell-eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals will be available for pickup on Monday, November 24, at both the Stone Ridge campus and Kingston Center SUNY Ulster (KCSU).
“We are incredibly thankful to Darlings for this act of generosity,” said SUNY Ulster President Alison Buckley, Ed.D. “This partnership reflects the best of Ulster County — a community that looks after one another and ensures that no student feels overlooked or alone during the holidays. It is one more way we show our students: you matter, and you belong.”
Each meal includes traditional Thanksgiving favorites ready to heat, enjoy, and share with family and loved ones. For students balancing academics, employment, family obligations, and financial pressures, this gift provides meaningful relief and the reassurance that their college and community is committed to their well-being.
“We saw that our community was hurting, and we wanted to help in the way we know best – by feeding people,” said John Embree, Head Chef at Darlings Roadhouse. “We are grateful for the chance to partner with SUNY Ulster and to make sure students and their families feel supported and cared for this Thanksgiving.”
This initiative highlights the growing partnerships between SUNY Ulster and local businesses committed to equity, access, and student welfare. Together, they are helping ensure that every student feels supported, nourished, and connected during the holiday season.
Thanksgiving Meal Pickup/Distribution
Monday, November 24, 2025
2–5 p.m.
- Location 1: SUNY Ulster, Stone Ridge Campus, Lobby of George Clinton Hall, 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge, NY 12484
- Location 2: KCSU Lobby, 94 Mary’s Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401
Availability: First-come, first-served (100 meals total). Students will be notified through targeted communications and can reserve meals through an online form provided by the college.
For media inquiries or to schedule an interview on the Stone Ridge Campus, please contact Deborah Kaufman at 845-687-5261 or kaufmand@sunyulster.edu.
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About SUNY Ulster
SUNY Ulster is a vibrant community college in New York’s Hudson Valley offering accessible, high-quality education that empowers students to achieve their academic, career, and personal goals.
About Darlings Roadhouse
Located in the heart of Tillson on Route 32, Darlings is known for its scratch-made comfort food, signature cocktails, and deep community commitment.
