WOODBURY – The Nonnewaug culinary classes hosted the 16th annual spring senior citizen drive-thru meal on Thursday, April 10. Each year, Nonnewaug organizes two meals for seniors per year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
This April, every level of Nonnewaug’s culinary department pitched in to prepare and serve delicious and carefully thought out meals to senior citizens of the Region 14 community.
“We spent a good two or three weeks on this stuff,” says senior advanced culinary student Arabella Rosa. “We prepared a bunch of food.”
Designing the menu for this event was no easy task as many factors had to be considered.
“We kind of have to design a menu of something that will package up well and reheat well,” says culinary teacher John Dominello. “This year we made baked stuffed shells with a fresh marinara sauce with basil from our garden, and we made an assortment of cookies. For a salad, we made a salad that travels well. We call it a Mediterranean grain and bean salad. It’s made with chickpeas, white beans, couscous, and lentils, fresh vegetables, and then a lemon balsamic vinaigrette.”
Every level of Nonnewaug’s culinary department pitched in helping prepare and serve the food. Even other classes outside of culinary assisted in putting the event all together.
“The culinary arts one class made some of the cookies,” Dominello says. “Culinary two made the salad, Mrs. Riggi’s class made the menu stickers, Mr. Birkenburger’s floriculture class made the flower centerpieces, and the music and drama department provided entertainment.”
Along with experience in preparing the food, the senior citizen meal gives students community service experience as well.
“It just makes me happy handing meals out to them,” says junior advanced culinary student Tyler DiElsi. “I get back to give back to the community. It’s a nice thing to do for them.”
Dominello, who oversees the event, agrees that the drive-thru meal gives students the opportunity to be involved in helping the communities of Woodbury and Bethlehem.
“It’s a wonderful event that not only provides service to our senior citizens,” Dominello says. “But it teaches our students a lot about community service and giving back.”
Not only do the Nonnewaug students appreciate and enjoy reaching out, but the senior citizens of the community enjoy them doing so.
“I’m just looking forward to all the different things that are in here,” says community member Sally Smith. “It’s just nice to have something that’s different.”
“It gives me some ideas for meals too because I’m tired of cooking,” Smith laughs. “I think it’s a good way to interact, especially for the students to get together and make something and for adults who don’t have some kind of food. It’s nice to provide them with something extra.”
A couple very special guests attended as well. Principal Dr. Kuslis’ grandmothers pulled around the front circle in the car together to pick up a meal.
“This is a wonderful event because it gives the elderly something to do other than just look at the mirror or something, you know?” Lillian Kuslis laughs. “And it’s really nice to do something. It’s very nice to be out and interacting with the students. I am looking forward to trying this delicious meal.”
In many of the cars pulling up to the building, there were quite a few furry friends tagging along with their snouts out the window.
“That’s Archie,” Smith says. “Archie’s a bozo and he loves attention. He’s an Airedale terrier, but something happened and I think he was crossed with ALF from Alien Life Form because Airedales have ears that go down but his stick straight up.”
Beyond visits from the community’s fury friends, the day also provided opportunities for students to work directly with the greater R14 community. Many of the advanced culinary students who helped distribute the meals found they felt a sense of satisfaction in preparing and assisting.
“It brings everybody together,” Rosa says. “And I feel like seeing the seniors’ faces is really heartwarming in my opinion because they enjoy it so much.”
“My favorite part of it is when the senior citizens pull up and not only to see how happy they are and how grateful they are,” Dominello says, “But also to see how it changes our students as well.”
“When we’re making the food, it’s just food put into a container,” Dominello added. “But when the students are actually able to approach the car and see how appreciative and how happy they are, it has a little bit of an effect on every kid who’s involved.”
