Freehold Culinary Students Help Feed The Needy

FREEHOLD, NJ — Students in the Culinary Arts Magnet Program at Freehold High School spend their days learning how to cook scrumptious meals. This time of year, however, their attention is focused on feeding those in need.

After baking more than 300 pies for the 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Food and Pie Sale at the Five Star Café, the student-operated restaurant, and helping to cook Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings for 22 families representing more than 75 individuals, the students are conducting a schoolwide food drive to fight hunger in Monmouth County to benefit Fulfill, the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

The goal is to collect 2,018 pounds of nonperishable food items for donation to the Foodbank by early December as a part of the club’s Students End Hunger campaign. More than 200 pounds of food had been collected beofre Thanksgiving.

Waypoint 622 provided the main meal while Culinary Arts student chefs baked the cakes and cookies. The St. Denis Food Pantry in Manasquan coordinated the efforts and their volunteers delivered the hot meals and desserts.

SkillsUSA, a national student organization dedicated to connect service and career exploration, organized the event.

The Five Star Café's holiday pies included apple crumb pie, pumpkin pie, cranberry relish, and butternut squash soup.

The SkillsUSA Club is hosting the food drive to fight hunger. Contact the school to donate.

Photos via Freehold Regional High School District