‘Operation Turkey’ brings dinner baskets to families in need
SARATOGA SRPINGS, N.Y. >> Just in time for the holiday, WSWHE BOCES and the Saratoga Kiwanis club is prepared to give back to the community.
Culinary Arts students at the Career and Technical Education program, a division of BOCES, worked together with the Saratoga Kiwanis to put together 100 holiday food baskets for local families in need. They called the project “Operation Turkey.”
This year, the 17th annual “Operation Turkey,” was the largest so far in terms of number of packages prepared.
“It keeps getting bigger, we keep getting more names on our list,” said Kiwanis member Maureen Clancy. Clancy, a retired chef instructor, coordinated purchasing all of the food for the packages from Price Chopper and working with the culinary students to make the event happen.
On Tuesday morning, the culinary students - with some help from students in other CTE programs - gathered together and started putting food packages together. The packages will enable families to cook a Thanksgiving dinner at home, with all the ingredients for a healthy meal that can feed up to six people.
It allows families in need to celebrate Thanksgiving around their own table, instead of going out to eat at an outreach location.
“This is all about giving back to the community and giving to those in need,” said Chef Celeste David, instructor of the Culinary Arts program. “The students did most of the work, and you could see the passion - everyone wants to be part of giving back and the collective of doing good for others.”
“It helps with gaining some muscle,” commented student Kerry Pancerella, as she carried full bags to load into a waiting car.
“We came together as a team,” added student Nathaniel Brooks. “We really wanted to
be part of giving back. We’re hoping to be able to bless a lot of people’s holidays, and I’m really looking forward to a lot more of these.”
As hard as the Culinary Arts students worked, to the pride of Chef David, everyone was quick to acknowledge that “Operation Turkey” got a huge helping hand from its partners.
“The partnership with the Kiwanis has been amazing,” Chef David said. “We also have to give a huge thanks to Price Chopper. We’re a small operation, and they came through big for us this year. We can’t thank them enough. We couldn’t have done this without them.”
Price Chopper’s generosity has allowed the Kiwanis to save up and put more funding towards other functions, like their upcoming Breakfast With Santa.
“Operation Turkey” packages have been delivered to 24 different organizations this year, including local churches, BOCES programs, and community outreach charities.