On Monday, December 15th, 20 students from Red River College’s (RRC) School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute will bring their cooking skills to Siloam Mission preparing turkeys donated by the Manitoba Turkey Producers and Granny’s Poultry Cooperative Ltd.

Serving with the students will be the Honourable Kevin Chief, Minister of Jobs and Economy, His Worship, Mayor Brian Bowman, City of Winnipeg, and David Rew, Interim President & CEO, Red River College.

Under the guidance of RRC Culinary Arts Instructors, Chef Scott Ball and Chef Gordon Bailey, students will prepare approximately 18 turkeys which equates to 500 lbs, traditional vegetable side dishes, sauces, gravy, and dessert.

“We are proud our donation will help feed over 500 people who rely on Siloam Mission for a hot meal.” noted Bill Uruski, Chairman of Manitoba Turkey Producers. “We recognize many people in our community don’t get the opportunity to enjoy turkey with their family over the holidays. We hope our donation brings smiles to the faces of those who may often go without.”

Students will arrive early, first helping to prepare and serve breakfast to approximately 600 Siloam Mission guests. They will then prepare and serve approximately 500 turkey dinners during the lunch meal service, which begins at 12:30 pm.

“The holiday season can be particularly hard on those in our community experiencing homelessness and poverty. They do not have the resources to enjoy a Christmas feast.” Says Floyd Perras, Executive Director of Siloam Mission. “We are grateful to have these students share their skills and passion. Red River College, the Manitoba Turkey Producers, and Grannies are bridging gap to build a stronger, more compassionate community here in Winnipeg’s inner city.”

This event is indicative of Red River College’s ongoing partnership with Siloam Mission. The Paterson GlobalFoods Institute is located in Winnipeg’s downtown and is an integral part of the surrounding community.

“Red River College has transformed lives in the classroom for more than 75 years and we also want to make a difference in our neighbourhood and in our city,” explains David Rew, Interim President & CEO, Red River College. “Siloam Mission is an excellent organization helping make a difference in Winnipeg. Partnering with Siloam offers many experiences for our students and demonstrates how they can make a difference in their community outside the classroom practicing their culinary skills.”

Download a copy of the release here.