Lol, plus a good movie or book.
Call residential life from housing and just ask the question “what do kids do for Thanksgiving that are not going home”. They will give you some leads. Also have him go to the student Facebook and see what clubs, houses, etc are doing something.
Also he can go into Facebook and post something about not going home and see who wants to do dinner. He can’t be the only one left on campus… Lol… Plus he might meet new people.
https://ihouse.uchicago.edu/living/thanksgiving_homestay_program/
Also… It’s Thanksgiving. Maybe sign up to work at a shelter to feed the homeless. I bet a lot of kids do this.
I don’t know if the above applies with the link.
If I were going to be stranded w/o food I’d probably want someone to send me one of those Hickory Farms gift baskets. The one with all the smoked sausage, cheese spread and crackers. I’d snack all weekend. Yum!
“Also… It’s Thanksgiving. Maybe sign up to work at a shelter to feed the homeless. I bet a lot of kids do this.”
- Bingo. Also, each house is going to cover the T-Giving weekend plans so it really isn't something that just happens upon you. My kids are staying put that weekend and will be joined by lots of kids from many other families. T-Giving falls at the end of 9th week, and things can get really hectic during 10th week leading into finals, so quite a few will opt for the quieter weekend to catch up on course work or sleep.
Really great suggestions all around! Whether staying in for a quiet weekend, or participating house activities, or volunteering; nothing wrong with that.
I would say in the 1980’s or early 1990’s on Thanksgiving Day almost everything shut down in Chicagoland. But in the last five years most supermarkets like Jewel Osco, Mariano’s and Whole Food had stayed open on Thanksgiving Day. There is a Whole Food at 51st and Lake Park and the new Jewel Osco at 60th and Cottage Grove. You can certainly get food from either locations for the dorm Thanksgiving Dinner. I wonder whether Jewel will still do the $5 sushi special on Thanksgiving Day 
.
Once you get over Thanksgiving Day, all the eateries in Chicagoland will be open from Black Friday through Sunday. Then the question is whether your kid wants to go the Loop and fight the crowd on Black Friday.
I hate to be Captain Obvious, but how about plan ahead and have some provisions such as Peanut butter, jelly and bread. Yogurt, cereal and milk? The kid isn’t going to starve.