Triton College Prepares and Distributes 1,000 Thanksgiving Meals to Students and Local Families

Chef Manuel “Manny” Uribe (right) and his students were hard at work on Monday preparing 1,000 Thanksgiving meals for students and local families ahead of the holiday.

RIVER GROVE, Ill. — Just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Triton College’s Hospitality Industry Administration program undertook an extraordinary effort to prepare and distribute 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to students and families in the community.

After many hours of prep work, cooking, and packaging holiday meals in Triton College’s Hospitality kitchen on Monday, Chef Manuel “Manny” Uribe, Culinary Arts faculty, and his team of students are delivering about 500 meals to Troy Mart to support students. The remaining 500 meals will be distributed to local food pantries in advance of the holiday.

Under the direction of Chef Manny, HIA students are applying their training in large-scale meal planning, preparation, and service while giving back to the community. The packaged meals contain all the holiday essentials, including roast turkey, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and corn.

While Chef Manny is coordinating this generous operation, he said the idea originated from his students.

“The students wanted to do it, and I made it happen with the participation of our fellow faculty and admin team,” he said. “There’s a need out there, and that was something felt by the students and myself.”

Chef Manny especially thanked the Triton College Faculty Association for its significant contribution to the initiative, as well as Triton College President Mary-Rita Moore and others across the campus community who supported the effort.

Chef Manny said he and his students felt it was important to support the student body and address food insecurity. Emphasizing Triton College’s role as a community college and servant of the community, he added that they also felt it imperative to feed Triton’s neighbors as well.

“For many, Thanksgiving is a time to look forward to a home-cooked meal with friends and loved ones,” he said. “But the reality is that not everyone is fortunate enough to enjoy a meal or the company to share it with. No one should be hungry on Thanksgiving. That’s really the idea behind this effort, and we’re thankful to be able to give back.”

The Hospitality kitchen was buzzing with energy as Chef Manny and his students prepared and assembled all 1,000 meals. Check out this short video to see them in action.

Learn more about Triton College’s Hospitality Industry Administration program here.

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Media Contacts:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Hunter Oberst | hunteroberst@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3820

ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE:
Triton College is a public institution of higher education dedicated to student success. Recently recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 200 community colleges in the nation, Triton offers more than 120 degree and certificate programs that prepare students to pursue meaningful careers, transfer to four-year universities, and thrive in a global economy. Guided by our mission—Valuing the individual, educating and serving the community—Triton serves nearly 12,000 students annually on its 110-acre campus in River Grove, Illinois. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide high-quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities that empower students and strengthens the communities we serve. Triton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of The Illinois Community College Board. Illinois is home to 45 colleges in 39 community college districts. Learn more at triton.edu.