WOODBURY — As the holidays creep closer, Nonnewaug’s advanced culinary program hosted its 15th annual Senior Citizen Holiday Meal on Nov. 30. 

NHS culinary instructor John Dominello never fails to host a memorable holiday meal prepared for the senior citizens in the community.  The event continues to grow and please many, and this year was no exception.  

“It’s so impressive,” said Tom Gereg, a Bethlehem senior resident. “John’s students do an incredible job, and it’s an opportunity for the community to see the talents of NHS students firsthand.” 

Advanced culinary students were busy preparing for this senior meal in the weeks leading up to it. It is important to the students that the seniors in our community are pleased with the meals. 

“It’s been a lot of work; we’ve been preparing for over a month,” said advanced culinary student Quinn Leonard, a senior. “It’s worth it. I like being able to talk and connect with the senior citizens.”

Culinary students prepared more than 140 meals for the luncheon. Ingredients were fresh from local farms, using fresh corn provided by Logue’s Farm. 

Dominello looks forward to this event every year. It’s grown from the days when it was a sit-down meal at school to a popular drive-thru event.

“We used to only be able to serve 40 senior citizens; now we can serve almost 150,” Dominello said.

“We come each year,” said senior citizen Bernett Law. “It is a wonderful thing you do to bring together Woodbury and Bethlehem. We love it so much. We send thank you cards each year.”

While culinary students handed out meals to the seniors, they were able to enjoy the NHS band and chorus.

“It was very successful,” said advanced culinary student Mathew Dutton, a junior. “Everyone looked happy and we gave away each one of our meals. It was a great way to start the holidays off.”