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Fleming’s culinary students and faculty donate meals to support the vulnerable during the pandemic

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Fleming student Nhu Quynh Nguyen preparing meal containers

Peterborough ON – (July 7, 2021) – Fleming College prides itself on building strong communities. Part of doing so is through being an active member of the community and supporting those in need.

Fleming’s culinary students and faculty from the School of Trades and Technology have stepped up during these trying times to prepare, package and donate various food items to local non-profit organizations – everything from soup to decadent desserts.

Since February, the School has donated a total of 3,776 servings to local emergency shelters and community centres that help Peterborough’s homeless. This includes the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Yes Shelter for Youth and Families, Brock Mission/Cameron House and One Roof Community Centre.

Fleming faculty member Natalie Wood says it is fulfilling knowing that the students’ hard work, generosity and innovation are going towards something more significant.

“This experience was truly rewarding on so many levels. It taught students how to use creative solutions to make tasty filling meals from very few ingredients and donate them to those in need,” said Wood.

In addition to helping the local community, this initiative allowed students to learn new techniques and skills for preparing and packaging food.  

“Much of the class focused on working with fourth-semester culinary students to package the foods that were produced or create soups and meals with a leftover product,” she said.

For Fleming graduate Jim Hoey this hit home, as he has experienced firsthand what it’s like to have very little.

“I was once homeless many years ago and having somewhere to get a meal helped me make it through a challenging time in my life and meant the world to me. It showed me someone cared,” Hoey said.

Mary MacLeod, Operations Manager with the School of Trades and Technology, is hopeful to see more initiatives like this in the future.

“It was such a rewarding experience for our team to help Peterborough’s most vulnerable during one of the most difficult years we have faced in the last half century of being part of this incredible community,” she said.

MacLeod added that although their efforts may take different forms, they hope to continue giving back to the community.