By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The hallways of Southside School were filled with the aroma of a Thanksgiving meal Thursday as students in Marty Oleson's Pre-Vocational Cooking Class held its annual holiday meal.
The students prepared enough food to feed around 100 people, including Niles Community School Superintendent Doug Law and other administrators, physiologist, social workers and teachers throughout the area. They even served other students and staff members within the school.
"We invite a lot of people to this and get such a great response each year," Oleson said. "The students really enjoy this day."
Students prepared mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, sweet potatoes and a wide variety of desserts, including pumpkin pie and brownies.
The turkey was provided by Greater Niles Community Federal Credit Union.
Heather Beshires, Charity Austin and Ashley Derossi, who were helping to serve food, agreed they have a fun time hosting the dinner.
"I already know I am going to do this next semester too," Austin said.
"And I like that we serve good food and the people really enjoy this," Beshires added.
Oleson said that the Thanksgiving dinner started as a way for students to earn credits for their cooking class.
Not only do they learn how to prepare a great meal, but students also learn the math, serving and social skills that go along with making a big dinner.
The students even go shopping for the food items, prepare the side dishes and desserts and even clean up after it is complete.
"They do the whole nine yards," Oleson said. "It's very exciting for the students to do this. It gives them a sense of helping others, giving back and being thankful and that's what Thanksgiving is all about." she added.