Ebony Benge’s story connects closely to Because of Winn-Dixie because both show how a person can find a sense of belonging and family in unexpected places. In the book, Opal Buloni moves to a new town and at first feels out of place, but through her experiences and the people she meets, she begins to build meaningful relationships that make her feel at home. Similarly, Ebony did not originally see Meadville as her home, but over time, through the love and traditions of her adoptive family, she found a place where she was accepted and cared for. Just like Opal’s first friendships and connections, Ebony’s experiences, such as sharing meals and celebrating birthdays, helped her understand what it meant to belong. Both stories show that family is not always something you are born into, but something that can be created through love and experiences.
Taste of Home
By: Mila O'Brion
When Ebony Benge first came to Meadville, she wasn’t looking for a place to belong.
Her brother had earned a full ride to Allegheny College in 1986, and she would come up and spend the summers with him and his girlfriend. At the time, Meadville was just somewhere she went. It wasn’t home, at least not yet.
Since she was 13, Ebony spent every summer in Meadville –returning year after year until she eventually moved there herself in 1993. During those summers, she did everything with her brother. They would spend entire days together, often at the home of the family who would later become her own.
Their ( her adopted parents home) house sits on 275 acres of land, with plenty of things to do. She walked the land and played in the yard, together with her brother. It was different from anything she had known before. It was there, in that space, that Ebony began to experience something unfamiliar, not just a new place, but a new kind of belonging.
What started as time spent visiting slowly turned into something deeper. There were family picnics, dinners, and games. Her favorite moments being Sunday and holiday meals. Soon enough, she was adopted by her, now, family. They welcomed her with open arms.
Growing up, Ebby never had consistent traditions or celebrations. She never received Christmas gifts, Easter baskets, or even a birthday cake– until her first Sunday dinner at her adoptive family’s house.
She remembers how, at her new home, dinner was set at a large table for thirteen people, with silverware carefully placed and glass plates laid out. The food was centered on the table, always warm and ready to eat. At the end of dinner, everyone helped to clear the table and replace the large plates with small dessert plates.
It was her adopted brother’s birthday.
They placed a piece of cake in front of Ebby, and at first she was unsure if she was allowed to eat it. She even asked to make sure.
It was the first time she had ever eaten birthday cake.
Since then, she has not missed a single birthday.
For Ebony, that moment was more than just dessert. It was the first taste of something she had never truly known, the beginning of something she had never experienced before– a family. Meadville was no longer just a place she visited during the summer. It became a place where she was welcomed, celebrated, and loved. It became home.
Ebony Benge