TA News

Thetford Academy’s longtime Culinary Arts teacher Jennifer Gernhard centers community service in her curriculum, teaching students both how to cook and how to make a difference.

For example, in Jennifer’s Cooking for Health class, students recently collaborated with a local church group to raise money for the Thetford Food Shelf, preparing 150 servings of apple crisp for a benefit dinner hosted by the Thetford Community Center. The collaboration raised over $2000 in much-needed donations for the food shelf’s work.

The class also regularly bakes pies for the Thetford Elder Network’s monthly meal, a community gathering that often includes friends, family, and neighbors that many students know personally. As Anna Ferrier ‘28, shared in a recent reflection,“Caring for the elderly is an incredibly important part of being a good citizen, and part of caring for the elderly is surely giving them opportunities to enjoy life. Events like the senior luncheon do a great job of providing excitement to our elders’ lives.” 

In recent weeks, Jennifer’s students have been cooking for their final fundraiser of the semester, preparing a variety of soups and breads to sell at the Thetford Academy Alumni Association’s Holiday Craft Bazaar. This event is part of the Empty Bowl Project, an international artists movement that aims to combat hunger and food insecurity through local action. With their own “empty bowls” (hand painted during a field trip to Tip Top Pottery) and delicious food, students typically raise more than $500 for the Thetford Food Shelf. 

When asked about her approach to teaching and why she centers community service in her classroom, Jennifer shares that “She loves, loves, loves to help students apply practical skills to solve real world problems.” Preparing food, especially in large quantities, is all about problem solving, she says – and when it helps others, it’s also pretty rewarding.