December 23, 2024 – Walnut Ridge High School junior Anthony Torres Mendoza’s passion for cooking ignited with his mother.
“My mom started me off cooking by like frying eggs for my family,” Mendoza said.
Now, through a partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, Mendoza serves meals to families in need. As one of Columbus Downtown High School’s culinary arts students, he prepares meals for families staying at Ronald McDonald House while their children receive medical care.
Anthony Ruffin, a culinary instructor at Columbus Downtown High School, has contributed to Ronald McDonald House for eight years. He has designed menus for volunteer groups that regularly prepare meals for the families.
When volunteer groups are unavailable, donated ingredients and pantry items remain, creating an opportunity for Ruffin’s culinary students to step in.
Since mid-October, Ruffin and his culinary seniors have transformed donated ingredients into meals during their weekly visits to Ronald McDonald House. Each Monday morning, the students inventory the pantry and craft a menu on the spot. Their dishes have included chicken pot pie and shepherd’s pie. Through the project, Ruffin has seen improvement in his students.
“There’s been a lot of growth in terms of skills and sanitation because they are in the kitchen more,” Ruffin said. “I have my students in a lab where they have everything they need.”
Blair Arms, executive chef at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, commended the students’ efforts for filling service gaps. The organization often depends on volunteers, and when they’re not available, the students ensure families still receive meals through pre-packaged meals in the pantry. With the student-prepared meals, families receive an increased quality of food as well as a greater diversity of food. And students benefit as well.
“They get firsthand experience in a commercial kitchen, and they get to see the impact of what they’re doing,” Arms said.
Since October, Ruffin estimates the students have prepared about 500 meals. The experience resonates with students like Mendoza.
“I’ve never done anything like this before, so it’s nice to know I’m helping people,” Mendoza said.
The program has garnered enthusiasm from Columbus Downtown High School students. Ruffin said his seniors have requested to participate. That means Monday afternoons at the Ronald McDonald House as well. He has also noticed improved behavior among students involved in the program, which they view as an incentive. Additionally, students can count this experience toward work-based learning requirements.
“It’s a win-win situation,” Ruffin said.
