Annual Thanksgiving bread sale benefits others

Date: 11/29/2010

Nov. 29, 2010

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW -- This year, the East Longmeadow High School Family and Consumer Science Department Thanksgiving bread sale did more than just add a tasty treat to customers' tables.

It also helped provide holiday meals for people at the Springfield Rescue Mission.

On Nov. 22, the department's culinary classes presented a check for $384 to Joe Manna, community development director for the mission.

"I'm going to have to call the bank, I don't think the ATM can take that," Manna joked as the students posed with a giant check, hand-illustrated by senior class member Giana Horsepian.

Manna praised the class for their efforts, which teacher Mary Jane McMahon estimated would feed approximately 193 people, based upon the meal cost she had seen quoted on Rescue Mission mailings.

"I want to thank you," Manna said. "You've understood something that some people never learn, no matter how successful they become the importance of giving back."

"I want you to continue doing what you're doing," he continued, inviting the class to visit the 19 Bliss St. facility to see what they do and perhaps, help serve a meal.

"We're seeing more people come in for help, especially more women and children," Manna told Reminder Publications following the presentation. "We're seeing people who have just lost homes, just lost jobs and are in a state of shock. We try to meet their needs [and] reassure them someone cares."

McMahon said she brought the idea of raising money for the Rescue Mission to this year's culinary classes after receiving several Thanksgiving Meal pleas from the organization.

"[There's been] so much n the news about people losing jobs and homes ... and mailings from the Rescue Mission said just $1.92 could feed a person Thanksgiving dinner," she said.

The classes readily took on the challenge.

"They set the goal for 100 [meals], raised it to 150 and topped at 193," she said.

A chart just outside the classroom door kept track of their progress.

"We've been baking for the past two weeks," McMahon said. "I had kids come in right after school and stay to 5 p.m. to get the breads baked. They've been very generous with their time."

The breads, which came in banana nut, cranberry nut and pumpkin nut varieties, sold for $6 per large loaf and $2.50 per mini. McMahon said the classes received orders for a total of 64 loaves, some of which they returned to baking following the check presentation. All monies collected went directly to the mission contribution; McMahon did not take out reimbursement for supplies. In the past, she said, any profits would have gone back into the program.

It's just a little bit of our time," Alex Fradette said as checked over the recipe for the last few loaves of bread. "It's nothing compared to what they don't have."