Holiday giving is on the menu at Canadian Food and Wine Institute

A taste for holiday giving sparked a flurry of activity in the kitchens of Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute.

Students, chef professors and staff cooked up a storm for hundreds of community children who might otherwise go without. The festive holiday fare – including turkey, stuffing, veggies and all the trimmings – was served at the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara (BGCN) Holiday Party on December 13. The event drew  more than 200 attendees to the club’s Niagara Falls location, where children between the ages of six and 12 were treated to a freshly-cooked holiday meal and received a gift to take home, collected from across Niagara as part of the Club’s annual toy drive.

“We appreciate the continued support that Niagara College provides,” said Brian Bratt, BGCN director of development. “The Boys and Girls Club Holiday Party is an opportunity for us to support children and youth who may otherwise go without this holiday season, and we would not be able to do it without Niagara College and our donors, sponsors and volunteers”

NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute (CFWI) has been involved with preparing BGCN holiday dinner for the past four years.

“We are so grateful to support the BGCN in this wonderful initiative. They are truly making a difference in the lives of children in Niagara,” said Sarah Scott, manager of Benchmark Restaurant at the CFWI. “It’s a tremendous joy to see a child’s eyes light up at Christmas dinner, or when they receive a gift.”

“Being involved with this event has been a rewarding and eye-opening experience; sometimes, our community doesn’t realize just how many children would not otherwise have this experience during the holidays.”

Benchmark has been collecting food donations from the teaching restaurant’s suppliers for months in advance of the event and noted they were  grateful for the positive response and generosity the initiative has received. During the week leading up to the event, Benchmark chefs led a team of culinary and baking students, who also work at Benchmark, in preparing for the holiday meal.

“I think the Boy’s and Girls Club of Niagara is on the right page with making a difference to the youth of today and future of tomorrow,” said chef Alex White. “Giving the kids the opportunity to grow, experience and be supported is something that I and the Benchmark team are happy to be a part of.”

Several members of the CFWI management team volunteered to serve dinner at the BGCN holiday event, including Benchmark manager Sarah Scott, dean Craig Youdale, assistant dean Gary Torraville, and manager of CWFI Part-Time Studies and Corporate Training Jeff Steen.

“Everyone is happy to contribute and to give back,” said Scott.

The College was also involved with collecting donations for the BGCN’s annual toy drive – with the NC Student Administrative Council leading the efforts.