January 7th, 2015
J.F. Carmichael Public School hosted their second annual festive lunch in December. Held in the gym, 500 students, staff and volunteers were able to eat together and experience a warm atmosphere of laughter and sharing.
The staff wanted to provide a FREE meal, as a gift, to show their respect and love to their students as they sent them home for the winter break. It was also a way to show that every J.F.C. student is their peers’ equal, in every way, at that moment, by removing all barriers of socio-economic participation. To help overcome all religious and dietary limitations, a partnership with Liaison College‘s culinary program was created to develop a menu that meets every child’s needs – celiac, dairy, nut allergy, and vegetarian and Halal.
Liaison College also provided student chefs to prepare and serve the meal. The meal itself, consisted of turkey (regular and Halal), potato (regular and dairy free), stuffing, vegetables, vegetarian lasagna, gravy (Halal and regular) and a bottle of water. All left over food was donated to the House of Friendship.
A big thank you to J.F. Carmichael PS staff who embodies what it means to be a caring and inclusive school. While the festive lunch is an “extra” in many people’s eyes, the school believes strongly that you build community by focusing on individual commonalities while at the same time celebrating, recognizing and respecting our individual differences.
Special acknowledgement and thank you goes out to their community partners who donated the turkeys for the event (Real Canadian Superstore, 875 Highland Road, Kitchener; Ammar Halal Meats, 315 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener; Sysco Canada, 7055 Kennedy Road, Mississauga; and Zehrs Markets, 450 Erb St. W., Waterloo).
Categories: Community · Inspiration · Schools Tags: Ammar Halal Meats · House of Friendship · J. F. Carmichael Public School · Liaison College · Real Canadian Superstore · School of the Day · Sysco Canada · turkey dinner · Zehrs Markets