During class on Tuesday, Oct. 13, students in the ProStart Culinary program at the Career Elevation and Technology Center (CETC) worked alongside their peers and culinary instructors Hope Nazzaro and Yvonne Justice to prepare free take-away meals for local seniors. The meal featured meatloaf, glazed carrots, mashed potatoes, seared broccoli and iced white cake. Through a partnership with the Longmont Senior Center, students will continue preparing free evening meals for community members ages 55 and older on select Fridays and Tuesdays through the end of the year.
The partnership gives students an opportunity to apply their culinary skills while making a meaningful impact in the community. “This experience goes beyond teaching students how to cook; they are learning what it takes to prepare quality, nutritious meals on a larger scale while developing teamwork, accountability and pride in their work,” Nazzaro said. “Most importantly, they are seeing firsthand how their culinary skills can make a difference in the lives of people in our community.”
For student Lucy Calvetti, knowing the meals bring joy to local seniors makes the experience especially rewarding. “Knowing that something we cooked is putting a smile on a senior’s face makes everything we do in the kitchen so much more meaningful,” Calvetti said.