The holiday gift-giving season is nearly upon us. There’s a small group of Fargo Public Schools (FPS) students who aren’t paying that much attention to the holiday countdown, however, because they’ve been practicing the spirit of giving all year long.
The ten special education students of Project inVEST have been giving their time and talents to others in the community as a regular part of their curriculum of study. The educational program, located at Agassiz, helps special education students make the transition from school to independent living in order to maximize their potential for a quality adult life. The program emphasizes community integration, social relationships, and recreation, along with the acquisition of life skills and employment skills. Students may participate in Project inVEST based upon need and ability and are eligible upon graduation through age 21.
The 2015-16 Project inVEST students have volunteered at many community organizations since the start of this school year, doing a variety of activities tailored to the students’ personal interests and career aspirations. Typically working in small groups, the students have raked leaves at the North Fargo Ronald McDonald House, served in the kitchen at the YWCA Shelter, helped out in classrooms of the Early Childhood Special Education program, served concessions for South High School athletic events, and participated in service projects for the United Way of Cass Clay recent Day of Caring. Two young men have taken over primary weekly care for the aviaries at Bethany Nursing Home. And, all of the Project inVEST students are scheduled to ring the bell for the Salvation Army red donation kettles during the upcoming holiday season. According to Project inVEST Coordinator Deb Mattson, the students are learning socialization and additional life skills while donating their time. “Plus, they are experiencing how good it feels to help someone else,” said Mattson.
Perhaps the most popular volunteer project these students undertake is a weekly activity that has been dubbed the “Hot Dish Club.” For the past four years, the Project inVEST students have been creating hot dish meals that are donated to others in the community. Mattson shared that the students plan the menu, shop for fresh groceries, ask for donations from businesses as needed, read out the recipes, measure ingredients, and cook the meal, all from donated materials, groceries, and gift cards given to the program. “Sometimes I wonder how we are going to cover expenses for the week’s meals, and then a gift card will show up on my desk, or a donation will be in the mail. Everything works out,” said Mattson. The efforts of the Hot Dish Club were publicly recognized almost two years ago, when the program received the YWCA 2014 Friend Award.
By now, the students have their hot dish meal prep down to a routine: Monday is planning time; Tuesday is for gathering ingredients; Wednesday is baking day; Thursday is cooking day; and on Friday the complete hot dish meals (including a vegetable, bread, sometimes accompanying dishes, and always a dessert) are picked up for distribution to homeless families within the Fargo Public School District by FPS Homeless Liaison Jan Anderson, or given to the YWCA Shelter. Pictured are Kira and Peter mixing up an Italian hot dish last week.
“This year’s group is a great bunch of kids,” said Mattson. “They are adventurous cooks, and like to try new recipes all the time, but one of their favorite recipes to make is Taco Rice Casserole.” Click here to view their recipe and try it yourself.
“The Project inVEST students learn so many independent living skills, and practice reading, writing, and math skills through all of these volunteering activities, in addition to feeling like they are contributing members, showing their support of our larger community,” shared Mattson. In this instance, it seems the givers truly receive as much as the gift recipient!
If you’d like to donate to the Hot Dish Club and experience the gift of giving yourself, contact Deb Mattson at 701.446.3156 or email her at mattsod@fargo.k12.nd.us to find out how you can best support the community volunteering efforts of Project inVEST.