During this year’s opening day inservice for the Slate Valley School District, Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell shared that this year’s goal was going to be a continuation of last year’s, but with greater expansion. The goal reads “Establish Community Engagement, Service and Partnerships by providing valuable, relevant, engaging and inclusive learning experiences for a global economy.” Fair Haven Union High School’s Family and Consumer Science teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Clement, heard this message and acted by continuing with a project begun at the end of the previous school year.
In the spring of 2023, Mrs. Clement was approached by a community member asking if she would be interested in contributing to an initiative set forth by Slate Valley Cares, formerly known as Fair Haven Concerned, where home cooked “crock pot” meals could be provided for patrons. Mrs. Clement immediately seized the opportunity as a great way for her students to give back to their community. So a commitment was made that once a month, Mrs. Clement’s Foods Classes would create meals for distribution at Slate Valley Cares. Last spring, her food classes joined forces and made shepherd’s pie one month and a meal of chicken drumsticks with teriyaki rice and broccoli for the next. The program picked back up this month with the start of school.
Patrons know that every Monday at Slate Valley Cares, they can find a home cooked meal option. Fair Haven Union High School fulfills their contribution every first week of the month, with three other community members providing meals for the rest of the monthly Mondays. “Of those volunteering to make the meals, we’re the only school doing this”, Mrs. Clement proudly smiles, then finishes,“we’re giving back, that’s the really cool thing.”
