Fort Plain seventh and eighth graders serve 45 meals to community at Manna House

About 12 class officers and student council representatives from the seventh and eight grade classes at Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School served nearly 45 meals to members of the community during the Manna House meals program Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Reformed Church of Fort Plain.

Class advisors Louise Clute and Maria Burton helped the students as they prepared a meal of ham, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, corn, and coleslaw. Mrs. Burton – who teaches home and careers – helped her students to make pumpkin bread in class and bring it to the dinner. The students also waited tables, cleaned-up, and sat with members of the community during the dinner.

Mrs. Burton said members of the public responded very positively and were happy to see the students.

“The students did a fantastic job. They were very respectful and responsible and it was a service for the community and I think they got a lot out of it,” Mrs. Burton said. “They are caring boys and girls and we want them to care about other people. We were very proud of them.”

Church pastor Nancy Ryan also praised the students’ work and said it is the volunteers who help the program succeed.

“This is the third or fourth year the students have come in and they did a great job. They had like 47 guests which is a high number for us,” she said. “It makes a difference in people’s lives, not just to be fed, but to interact with. It’s real powerful.”

Ryan said the Manna House – which runs at 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays – started in November of 2000 as a way to offer food to low-income members of the area and senior citizens, as well as build a sense of community. Food is either donated by the volunteer groups (school groups, civic organizations, etc.) or purchased by the church. Pastor Ryan says she tries to buy local as much as possible and also receives bread and dessert donations weekly.

“We wanted to make food accessible to people, but we also wanted to build community and build the spirit,” Ryan said. “The students help too, because students from the middle or high school volunteer here every month either with an organized group or other groups in the community.”

The Manna House is always looking for volunteers and donations of money and non-perishable food items such as juice, cans of vegetables, and pasta. For more information, call the church at 518-993-4302.