Careerline Tech students, staff provide Thanksgiving meals to students in need

HOLLAND — A handful of programs at the Careerline Tech Center came together to provide for students in need ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Students and instructors in three CTC programs — agriculture and animal science, culinary arts, and pastry arts and baking — made Thanksgiving food baskets and donated them to CTC students and their families.

The Tech Center works with local school districts to identify students in need. Student services staff then meets individually with the students to see if they want to receive a basket.

Started as a simple canned food drive by student services staff in 2008, the Thanksgiving tradition grew into full meal basket donations with the help of instructors and students.

The agriculture and animal science program donates chickens, while the culinary arts and pastry arts classes contribute pie, rolls, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gray, cranberry sauce and squash.

“After the class competes in a broiler chicken contest every November, we are happy to donate the surplus chickens to the Thanksgiving boxes as well as local shelters,” stated Tony McCaul, agriculture and animal science instructor.

“Students can practice measuring, portioning, planning, and working with chef knives,” added Josh Hoeksema, instructor for culinary arts and pastry arts. “The students enjoy working on this project. They understand the idea of giving back and especially helping other Tech Center students in need.”

The food baskets were set to be delivered throughout the county by around 15 volunteer staff members from the CTC.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: CTC students, staff provide Thanksgiving meals to students in need