The Middle School’s Family and Consumer Science (FACS) eighth-grade students are continuing to roll up their sleeves and use their baking talents to create delicious breads and cinnamon buns — thanks to an ingredient grant from the King Arthur Baking Company’s “Bake for Good” program — with much of those baked goods now earmarked to benefit the non-profit Sparrow’s Nest organization.
Sparrow’s Nest cooks and delivers homemade meals to individuals and families facing a cancer diagnosis in Dutchess, Putnam and parts of Orange and Ulster counties.
Founded in 2012, the charity feeds an average of 400 people each week; more than 3,500 individuals since its inception. Qualified individuals are never turned away. As word of its mission spreads, the need for its services continues to expand.
King Arthur’s “Bake for Good” program is a free community and educational outreach program designed to teach students (primarily grades 4 through 12) how to bake — or support the baking skills they’re learning in the classroom, and to use those skills to benefit the community and practice kindness.
Thus far, approximately 120 loaves of bread have been baked along with close to 300 cinnamon rolls since mid-November.
Students bake bread (or other baked goods) from scratch using supplies provided by the Vermont-based King Arthur Baking Company. Each student typically bakes a recipe that yields two loaves, or a batch of rolls. The intent is to keep and one to share with those in need or as an action of kindness.
FACS teacher Victoria Ingrassia submitted an ingredient grant application in August, which was quickly approved. Ingredients were delivered this past October.
To support 274 student bakers, King Arthur donated 360 pounds of all-purpose flour and 360 pounds of Golden Whole Wheat flour, along with additional baking materials, allowing students to continue baking breads and rolls as part of their ongoing coursework. Each student also received a recipe booklet, a dough scraper and bread bag.
“There’s a lot more going on than just baking,” said Ms. Ingrassia. “Students are using STEM and literacy skills by measuring ingredients, learning culinary science concepts like fermentation and kneading and reading recipes.”
She added: “But equally important is that students see the importance of generosity, social responsibility and kindness — and feel that, themselves, through their actions — to those facing a grave illness or even food insecurity by sharing what they bake with others. These are important character traits that our Middle School consistently reinforces to our students. ”
“It is so heartwarming to see the time and energy the students put into making this bread,” said Sparrow’s Next Executive Director Krista Jones. “When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the last thing they want to spend time on is planning a meal, gathering ingredients and preparing the food. A slice of delicious, warm bread is enough to bring joy to the more than 400 people we feed each week. We are thankful for this beautiful gift.”
The kindness and generosity of sharing the bread loaves with Sparrow’s Nest extends into the Middle School community with a different bakery item.
At the Middle School, eighth-grade FACS students have operated a "Fill Your Mug Fridays" coffee/tea cart since the early fall. On Friday mornings, selected students don specially designed aprons and take turns traveling the building offering complimentary coffee/tea for faculty and staff as a way of thanking them for all they do.
As a delicious bonus, cinnamon buns from the “Baked for Good” program have made their way onto the cart — earning rave reviews, heartfelt gratitude and disappearing into happy mouths almost as quickly as they arrived.
“The cart experience gives students an opportunity to learn and refine skills such as customer service, inventory management and food preparation as well as teamwork, communication, responsibility, confidence, and self-esteem through their interactions with faculty and staff,” Ms. Ingrassia added. “But, it’s also a reminder that a simple act of kindness to others --- offering a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun --- can make a huge, positive difference in a person’s day.”
Future baking plans include using the flour and associated ingredients to make pizza, knotted garlic rolls and muffins, following the recipes supplied in the King Arthur recipe book provided to each student.
To learn more about Sparrow's Nest, visit: Sparrow's Nest