This Thanksgiving, Family and Consumer Science (FACS) students at Lightridge High School put their culinary talents to work through the Cooking Up Hope initiative. They prepared full holiday meals for LCPS students and families who are experiencing homelessness, bringing warmth, tradition and community to those who need it most.
Under the guidance of FACS teachers Maria Gore and Kelsy Zaremski, students prepared a traditional Thanksgiving feast complete with turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, buttered corn, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and a pumpkin dessert. In total, they prepared 72 meals to feed 18 families. LCPS staff delivered the meals to the families who are currently living in hotels. Loudoun Hunger Relief, along with Lightridge families and staff, generously donated turkeys or funds to purchase them. Additional contributions from LCPS staff helped cover the cost of the remaining food.
While the scale of the project may have felt daunting, students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm. “They know this meal is not just food. It is providing warmth, celebration and tradition for families who need it most,” Gore explained. The teachers also noted that the project helps instill compassion and gratitude in their students.
The initiative connects directly to classroom learning. Students in Gourmet Foods, Introduction to Culinary, Food Science, and Project Management practiced for this activity by creating Thanksgiving sides for Friendsgiving celebrations held the previous week. Advanced students took on the challenge of scaling recipes to serve large groups and applying fundamental principles of food science. “By personally being involved in this endeavor, we believe the students gained a deeper appreciation for their own resources,” Gore added. Beyond the science, the project emphasized teamwork, problem-solving and professional-level kitchen management.
Principal Dr. Ryan Hitchman said the project reflects the school’s values: “When we opened Lightridge in fall 2020, we wanted our school to be a community center. Sometimes that means inviting people into our building, while at other times it involves our students and staff providing to our community. We are excited to be a part of Cooking Up Hope, and I would like to thank our students and staff for thinking of others and how they can help them during the holiday season. We are proud to be a part of this activity.”
The students and families receiving the meals are supported by the LCPS McKinney-Vento program, which is based on federal law that ensures educational rights and services for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Currently, 1,048 LCPS students are receiving McKinney-Vento services. Holly Angle, LCPS McKinney-Vento specialist, said that families may face housing instability due to high housing costs, job loss, economic hardship, or unforeseen circumstances such as house fires or flooding. Adding that this year, LCPS has seen an increase in students displaced by fires and evictions.
“We believe this meal represents a reminder to our McKinney-Vento families that they are seen, supported and cared for. It offers a sense of hope during a challenging time and reinforces that their school community is standing beside them. It shows that people genuinely want to help,” said Angle.
If you or your student lacks a fixed, regular or adequate nighttime residence, the LCPS McKinney-Vento program may be able to help you. Visit the LCPS McKinney-Vento webpage to learn more and to complete a referral.