BRATTLEBORO-The students of Hilltop Montessori Middle School have been making and delivering apple pies to organizations that serve people in need in our community since the program’s inception more than 30 years ago.
“Since that time, the number of hungry Vermonters has only grown,” the school said in a news release. “Making and offering pies to those who feel hunger most acutely in our community is an important part of our humanities curriculum, which engages in real and tangible ways our overarching question ‘What does it mean to be human in community?’ At the core of this question is an examination of how we relate to, and care for, others.”
The pie-making process begins in the fall with students making calls to donors for apples and crumble ingredients. This engages them directly with local surrounding farms and businesses, and helps them build the important skills of using their voices to advocate on behalf of others.
Making the pies themselves teaches important lessons around food safety and culinary skills, and offers plenty of opportunity for them to develop responsible independence. It also helps build social cohesion in the classroom by centering their favorite piece of the Hilltop curriculum, engagement with one another.
Delivering the pies puts students directly in touch with organizations and people in the community who are often overlooked, and who are not served well by the existing social safety net.
“This lesson lands deeply,” said school promoters, “and helps students engage in the process of taking perspective, asking meaningful questions, thinking about what is just and morally right, and experiencing the singular nature of giving without expecting something in return.”
To join students in their service at any time of year, reach out directly to Loaves and Fishes, the Putney Foodshelf, St. Brigid’s Kitchen and Pantry, Groundworks Collaborative, Foodworks, and other local service organizations that serve community members in need.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.