Thanksgiving is typically a time to be with family and friends to enjoy good company and a warm meal, but not everyone is fortunate enough to have that experience.
That's why this year, Dave Mota and his sister, Helena Pereira are making a point of donating a fabulous Turkey dinner to those in need.
"It gives them hope. It's a mission for me to give them hope," said Mota. "It's not that I can fix the system, but I know that doing nothing would make it worse for them. At least when other people see what I'm doing, they start to volunteer."
Mota has his reasons for lending a helping hand. A few years ago, Mota stumbled upon a woman experiencing homelessness, bundled up in a sleeping bag in a tent outside. He started bringing her supplies, but one day, she wasn't there.
He later learned she had frozen to death.
"I have a lot of empathy and I think sometimes too much, because I hold their pain. I can't just watch it," Mota said. "It's hard. There are so many people struggling out there."
Since then, Mota, a Technical Support Specialist at St. Clair College, has visited the Housing and Homelessness Help Hub in downtown Windsor every Sunday, with a car full of supplies and food for the hub's clientele, most of whom are experiencing homelessness.
This Thanksgiving, Mota and Pereira wanted to expand this personal mission, enlisting the services of students and faculty in the Culinary Management program to assist with preparing, cooking and dishing out Thanksgiving dinner to about 200 thankful patrons at the Housing and Homelessness Help Hub (H4).
"I just want more people to see it and have an understanding because I think that will make a difference," said Mota.
From peeling potatoes to carving the turkey, students not only gained invaluable experience with preparation and cooking for a large event, but they also learned the value of giving back to the community.
That was the big takeaway for Hope Neill, a first-year student in the Culinary Management program.
"I'm lucky enough to have a really big family, but I am downtown a lot and I do see a lot of people who are not in the best of situations," Neill said. "I feel like us, as people who handle food, we have a moral obligation to feed people."
"It is our profession. It's always something I've been really proud of, being able to use those skills for the benefit of my community. It's something I really like learning here," said Neill.
As part of the program, students in Culinary Management are required to complete internship hours in the kitchen. This was an opportunity to not only fulfill course requirements, but also fill some bellies and feel good doing it.
First year student Stephen Avila had never prepared a turkey prior to this task but found the new experience to be extremely rewarding.
"It felt really good to know that we were able to help," said Avila. "At some moments, it was really challenging because it was the first time I had ever cut open a turkey, but I kept reminding myself this is for a good cause and because of that, it felt good."
"Always give back when you can," he added.
Chef Michael Jimmerfield, along with two faculty members oversaw the 10 students who assisted with the Thanksgiving dinner preparation.
"It's that whole amplification of practice, and that repetition really helps for learning," said Chef Jimmerfield.
"Cooks and chefs are always pressed for that because the need is real, it's there. Our skill set, when it comes to community involvement and charitable things, is often requested," said Jimmerfield. "We really took care of them."
The students noted it also felt like a private cooking lesson with many takeaways, but the lesson of the day was giving back, an activity first-year student Ciaran Waples believes will be contagious.
"It felt amazing," said Waples. "I've been thinking for a while about finding a soup kitchen to volunteer at in town, but this sort of experience really solidified for me that I'm definitely going to do that."
Mota and Pereira were at the H4 Hub over the weekend to dish out the Thanksgiving dinner and hope the act of giving becomes contagious, urging anyone in Saints Nation who is willing to lend their time, talents, or money to help.
"If I can spark one person to help out people in this situation, I feel like I'm making a difference," said Mota. "It takes an army to help all these people and St. Clair College is the perfect nation for that kind of stuff."
If you wish to help Mota with future activities, he can be reached here: Dmota007@hotmail.com
