Students Cook Up Festive Dinners for Community

Hospitality and Catering students at South Eastern Regional College’s (SERC) Downpatrick Campus have been continuing to learn about the industry by making meals to support clients of Fountain Food Bank and a number agencies in the Downpatrick area.   The students have prepared Christmas dinners and festive treats for local people and families in the run up to Christmas as part of their project-based learning. 

Thomas Turley, Hospitality and Catering Lecturer said, “Throughout the year, our hospitality and catering students gain valuable experience and skills to complement their studies through the College’s cafes and restaurants and through working in local cafes, restaurants and hotels, both in the kitchen and front of house.  This year, things are very different for everyone, but it is still vitally important for our students to continue to gain as much experience as possible in seasonal food preparation and customer service, so we have been harnessing all that learning for the good of the community and people in need by working with the local Fountain Food Bank and other agencies to supply over 70 Christmas meals and festive treats.  He added, “Whilst our Professional Cookery students will be making Christmas dinners, chilled and ready to reheat at home, the front of house teams have been involved in distribution which took place from Downpatrick Campus this week.” 

Dearbhla Knight, Innovation Advisor at SERC said, “We were delighted to have secured funding from Food for Life, support from Fountain Food Bank and monies raised through a raffle for a hamper, kindly donated by Hanlons in the town, which all went towards purchasing the food to make the delicious meals.   We would like to thank everyone for their support in helping the students to help others in our community.”  

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