Community Events/Service Opportunities

 Our Program not only focuses on teaching culinary skills, but incorporating a strong community service component into the curriculum that enhances and enriches the student experience.  Students have a wide-range of opportunities to support our local communities by volunteering their time and talents to a variety of events. These fundraisers or events for different charities offer students a way to “give back” through their passion for the culinary and hospitality arts.  Featured below are just a few of the events that our Program is actively involved:

Chefs’ Night Out

An annual fundraiser for Food for Lane County, Chefs’ Night Out features the culinary offerings of local chefs, restaurants, bakeries, and wineries.  Each year, our students participate in the Event showcasing a different food theme.  Our Program won the 2007 “Best Bites” and the 2009 “Best Presentation and Hospitality” awards!

Whiteaker Thanksgiving Dinner

The Annual Whiteaker Community Thanksgiving Dinner feeds over 2,000 low income families in Eugene.  Our faculty, staff, and students, including others from the Lane community, all participate in supporting the event with the preparatory production and execution beginning the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Mount Pisgah Mushroom Festival    

Co-sponsored by the Cascade Mycological Society, the annual Festival celebrates the broad range of fungi collected throughout Western Oregon.  Students participate cooking and serving mushroom fare, which is a reputable and favorite highlight of the Festival.

                        Project Homeless Connect                   

A nationwide movement and annual local event held at the Lane County Fairgrounds, Project Homeless Connect was created to improve the access to a variety of services for people who are or will be homeless in Lane County.  Our students cook for and serve almost 1,000 homeless         people.

 Local Food Connection

An annual event held here at the Center for Meeting and Learning, the Local Food Connection creates business opportunities for farmers, fishers and food buyers. The Local Food Connection provides the chance to network and the opportunity to participate in educational workshops.  Local farms and producers donate items for the fabulous conference lunch, created by Chef Tim Hill and students at the Center for Meeting and Learning.