Hyde Park, NY – Although students at The Culinary
Institute of America are typically known for preparing gourmet food, it was
the recent preparation of simple PB&J that drew the appreciation of many in
the community. Several Ѹ resident assistants (RAs), working with college staff,
organized more than 100 students to make and deliver peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches for soup kitchens and food pantries in the Hudson Valley.
Assembly-line tables were set up on April 7 in The Egg, the student dining venue on the college’s Hyde Park campus—and in just one hour, the
students and RAs had made and wrapped almost 4,000 sandwiches. By Monday
morning, all those PB&Js were divided up and driven to eight charitable
organizations in nearby Poughkeepsie and Kingston, NY.
“We started this project as a way to help our local
community,” says Dr. James Manley, associate dean for campus life and student
development at the Ѹ. “Each day we have hundreds, if not thousands, of
community members who are in need of food, for one reason or another. This
brings our students together in a fun activity that helps them connect with one
another while also helping to serve a need in our area.”
The effort did not go unnoticed by community leaders. “We
are so grateful for Ѹ’s generous and thoughtful
efforts in providing thousands of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to various
organizations in our city,” says Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison.
“This is just another example of what a community should look like—organizations
and people caring about others who many times need their help.”
The food and equipment for this good cause was donated to
the Ѹ by The J. M. Smucker Company (720 pounds of
Jif peanut butter and 600 pounds of Smucker’s grape
jelly), Bimbo Bakeries USA (350 loaves of Freihofer’s wheat bread), and HILL & MARKES (sandwich bags and food preparation
gloves).
This is the second year the Ѹ’s Residence Life staff
spearheaded the peanut-butter-and-jelly-making evening for charity. Last year,
3,000 sandwiches were produced and delivered to The Bowery Mission in lower
Manhattan. The 2017 recipients were Dutchess Outreach, Salvation Army, Youth Mission Outreach, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,
and Holy Light Pentecostal Church in Poughkeepsie; and Caring Hands Soup
Kitchen, People’s Place Food Pantry, and Chiz’s Heart
Street in Kingston.
“We are very thankful for all of our sponsors and volunteers
that make this a reality and we are hoping this becomes a tradition on our
campus in the years ahead,” adds Dr. Manley.
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:
Ѹ students made thousands of peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches for distribution to soup kitchens and food pantries in the Hudson
Valley. Among those enjoying the opportunity to help the community are (from left)
Food Business Management majors Nicole Cabral and Marikya Paige and Culinary Arts majors Gokul Kumar Mohit Kripashankar and Rasmika Bhatia. (Photo
credit: Ѹ/Meka Harris)
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu
Founded in 1946, Ѹ is the world’s premier
culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and hospitality,
the independent, not-for-profit Ѹ offers bachelor’s degree majors in
management, culinary science, and applied food studies; associate degrees in
culinary arts and baking and pastry arts; and executive education through its
Food Business School. The college also offers certificate programs and courses
for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences and consulting services have
made the Ѹ the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network of
49,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food business. The Ѹ
has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.
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