Fort Wayne Community Schools Career Academy students hosted their fourth annual Give Back Thanksgiving on Monday, offering free meals to members of the community.
Four years ago, the Career Academy hosted a ‘Dine-In Day,’ which was a program associated with The National Restaurant Association. Culinary Arts instructor Anne Applegate said students wanted more ways to reach the community, and it led to Give Back Thanksgiving.
Culinary Arts students put together carry-out meals which they then hand out to community members from the recently-opened Barr Street Bistro.
Reece Jarvis, a senior at Snider High School, helped prepare the meals last year. This year she got to help serve.
“I think it helps a lot of people in our community, even if it is just their one meal of the week," she said. "It just helps them in some sort of way to be able to eat.”
Applegate said the program really makes an impact on students as well.
“I have students that have graduated from this program that contact me every year and come back and work and volunteer their time,” she said.
Jarvis said she's already looking forward to coming back to volunteer after she graduates.
The meals this year consisted of chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and apple crisp. They offer two meals per person.
