Mrs. Vickers’ Culinary Arts students prepared and distributed 150 healthy, family-sized meals for families at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Head Start program before winter break. As part of the experience, students cooked vegan Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili, managing every step of the process—from preparation and cooking to weighing, packaging, labeling, and delivery.
This community service project was made possible through a partnership with Kids Feeding Kids, a program in which Family and Consumer Sciences classes across Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois participate. The initiative provides a curriculum and hands-on experiences focused on increasing food access, reducing food insecurity, and raising awareness about the social and environmental impacts of food waste.
Through this work, CPA scholars deepened their understanding of nutrition, food safety and sanitation, and sustainable food systems, while also learning how thoughtful meal planning can strengthen family mealtime. Most importantly, they were able to make a meaningful and tangible impact by providing free meals to families in the community.