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Hot lunches at Hermon Public School

April 28, 2016

Rick Cassidy and Marian Pierce dish out pancakes and maple syrup to hungry students at Hermon Public School.

By Tony Pearson

Rick Cassidy and Marian Peirce moved to North Hastings eight years ago. They moved here after selling their resort in beautiful Burleigh Falls, so they wanted another scenic location for their new home.

They checked possible locations on the Internet, then headed up on a scouting trip. “As soon as we started east on Highway 28 out of Bancroft, we knew we were where we needed to be,” Rick declares.

Having settled, they looked for a way to contribute to their new community. Soon they were volunteering at Hermon Public School. And for the past three years, they’ve been responsible for the weekly hot lunch, part of the Hastings-Prince Edward school board’s Food for Learning program. Every Thursday, they’re in the staff kitchen, and then the kids’ lunch room, preparing and serving up a tasty hot meal.

Last week, it was pancakes, a student favourite – especially since it’s served with real local maple syrup.

Cassidy and Peirce also do an annual Thanksgiving feast, as well as a spring barbeque for staff and students each June.

The Food for Learning program at Hermon was launched by the school parent council over a decade and a half ago. A special contribution is made every year by the local hunters’ alliance.

“The Food-for-Learning program provides good nutrition to enhance learning,” says Principal Sarika Henry. “It also shows the great community spirit in this area; we really appreciate their support.”

Cassidy and Peirce simply sum up their contribution as “It’s fun doing something with the kids, we love it.”