Project Rise and Kenmore-Garfield FCCLA Group Hosts 12 th Annual Harvest Dinner for Local Families Experiencing Homelessness

PRESS RELEASE: November 21,
2019
Organization:
Project Rise
Akron Public Schools
10 N. Main Street
Akron, OH 44308
Contact:
Rachel Breece, Special Programs Coordinator
(330) 761-2969 / [email protected]
Project
Rise and Kenmore-Garfield FCCLA Group Hosts 12th Annual Harvest
Dinner for Local Families Experiencing Homelessness
On November 19th, Project Rise and
Kenmore-Garfield High School hosted a special Thanksgiving event for families
experiencing homelessness. This is the 12th annual Harvest Dinner
event and the 3rd year that the event was held at Kenmore-Garfield
High School.
The
Harvest Dinner gives Project Rise families and youth the opportunity to
celebrate this festive time of year with food, fun and friendship. The evening
included arts and literacy activities, parent-child activities, Thanksgiving
dinner, giveaways, and entertainment. Altogether, around 115 attendees enjoyed
the special evening.
Project Rise is a federally funded program
through Ohio Department of Education. This program is a collaborative effort by
Akron Public Schools, local shelters and the Akron community to provide
supplemental educational services to children and youth experiencing
homelessness. During the 2019-2020 school year, Project Rise identified and
served approximately 2,080 students.
The
food was prepared by KGHS FCCLA Group (Family Career & Community Leaders of
America) https://www.ohiofccla.com/ . The student group is lead by Family Consumer
Sciences Teacher, Cheryl Marez. Ms. Marez led her team of students in the set
up, food preparation and clean up. The students
fundraised for and prepared 12 turkeys, stuffing, mac and cheese, corn pudding
and gravy. The
KGHS Culinary Program (also FCCLA) provided mashed potatoes. Various staff
members from KGHS also pitched in. Several teachers donated desserts and Phyllis
Dinkins, Child Nutrition Specialist, helped ensure the food stayed hot until it
was served.
Not only did the Harvest Dinner provide a
wonderful meal for the students and families, but also engaging activities and
giveaways. Before and after the meal, attendees were invited to visit activity
tables hosted by librarians from Akron Summit County Public Library and CAB
(Children and Books) who gave each child a new book. Cuyahoga Valley National
Parks, Buckeye Credit Union, AMHA and the AMHA Spark Program also provided
information and activity tables.
The University of Akron
ZIPS on the RISE volunteers helped with face painting and a photo booth
activity. Project Rise staff brought Kodak instant printers and small photo
albums so the families could take keepsake family photos home with them.
Attendees also had an
opportunity to visit the giveaway tables where they received brand new socks,
books, coloring books, hand-made knitted hats and scarves, tote bags and pillow
cases. The socks were collected by Rimer CLC and Sam Salem CLC and the hats and
scarves were hand-made and donated by the Knitting Knights.

After the dinner was served, Akron Public
Schools Board Member, Lisa Mansfield, presented the KGHS FCCLA students with a
proclamation of service and gratitude that will be recognized at the next
school board meeting. The students were excited to meet Ms. Mansfield and have their
photo taken with her.
The special event was
coordinated by Project Rise Special Programs Assistant, Amanda Smith with help
from Special Programs Coordinator Rachel Breece and Cheryl Marez.
Project Rise would like
to thank everyone who came together to make this event a success. Without the support
from Ms. Marez and the KGHS FCCLA Group, KGHS staff, community volunteers and
partners, this event would not be possible. For more information on Project
Rise and how you can help, please contact Rachel Breece at 330-761-2969 or [email protected].