The Dew Drop Inn doesn't have to worry about dessert for Monday's Thanksgiving dinner thanks to some helpful students.
The Grade 6 classes from St. Jude School delivered dozens of pumpkin pies to the soup kitchen Thursday morning and then got to work helping make sandwiches, sort groceries and clean tables for the day's patrons.
Teacher John Kolic said the pie making started as a math project.
"We're finding kids learn better with real life applications. Then we thought about Thanksgiving and how fortunate we were, so we thought it would be a great idea if they baked the pies and gave it to the Dew Drop Inn," he said.
The students learned about measurement, proportions and following instructions through the project as well as learning some basic baking skills.
"They were excited, not even baking the pies, just helping out people less fortunate," said Kolic. "It really felt good for them and that's something we're very proud of."
Grade 6 student Jeremy Pasciullo said it made him feel happy to help out people in need.
"It means a lot because some of the people out there are less fortunate than us and we need to actually open our eyes and start helping them," he said.
While Aiden Frenette didn't get too hands-on with the pie-making due to an egg allergy, he still felt good about donating the pies to the Dew Drop Inn because lending a helping hand could give someone a jumpstart.
"It makes me feel good because if I was in that position and I needed someone like that to help me then it would be nice to know that somebody could do that for me, too," he said.
Dew Drop Inn director Terri Favreau was pleased to receive the help from the St. Jude students.
"They're our future. We have to have them on board to help us out," she said.
Favreau takes on the job of cooking the turkeys for the dinner so the pie donations save her from having to purchase a dessert for Monday's dinner.
The Dew Drop Inn is expecting about 350 people to come for the sit-down meal that consists of a traditional turkey dinner.
And while the organization has been short on volunteers in the past, Favreau's not worried about being short-handed Monday.
"Somehow we put out the word and the people come," she said.
About 30 to 35 volunteers are needed to help serve Thanksgiving dinner. Anyone willing to donate their time should arrive at the Dew Drop Inn around 2 p.m. Monday.
