By CHERYL JENSEN
The Progress
A special fundraiser entitled “Love and Care” provided a gourmet lunch for a donation of $10. The event, held from the Virgin Valley High School parking on Saturday, April 2, was all done to benefit the Mesquite Cancer HELP Society in providing assistance to cancer sufferers and their families.
The eye-pleasing and very tasty Cajun entrée of cheesy grits, topped with blackened chicken, compound butter and chopped green onions was offered at the fundraiser. Campbell Smith, a Virgin Valley High School senior created the recipes based on some food she herself had recently enjoyed.
Campbell organized the event herself to raise funds for the Society. She said that she wanted to do this as a way to thank Society members for their help and support when she lost her own father to cancer in 2020. All the money raised from the “Love and Care” event will be donated to the Society.
Most of the ingredients for the food were donated to the cause. Campbell purchased the chicken through her boss, Jake Worden, who is the owner of “The Worden’s” restaurant at the Highland Hotel.
Campbell also enlisted some of her fellow VVHS culinary students and some other friends to help in the preparation for the 100 meals which were sold and distributed in a drive-up lane at the school.
Those helping included Maleah Krause, Savanah Poole, Jenna Walters, Elizabeth Glaymer and Sharon Rae in the kitchen. Yoli Bell, Jamie and Pam and Mary Smith of the Mesquite Cancer HELP Society helped out in the parking lot.
VVHS Culinary program instructor Chef Chris Noone started the culinary program at VVHS several years ago. Since then it has grown into one of the most popular classes at the school offering several years of training in culinary arts.
Campbell joked that she grew up in a “dysfunctional food family” usually having hamburger helper-type meals. But she said she has always been interested in trying other foods and she loves to experiment with new flavors.
“I fell in love with food and experimented in the kitchen when I was caregiver for my father,” Campbell said. “I love making soups; they are comfort foods. If I do make desserts, it is Bananas Foster because it makes a spectacular show of flambé.”
Campbell with attend Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, in September.
The culinary program at VVHS has grown over the past six years. Now VVHS offers CTE – Career, Technical Education certificates in photography, mechanics, web design, digital games, video productions, theatre tech and wood working.
Campbell will receive a CTE certificate in culinary arts; and Maleah, assisting with the food preparation for the event, will receive CTE certification in photography, and culinary arts when she graduates.
Chef Noone has overseen the program at VVHS and the upgrading of the culinary kitchen area that includes a warming oven, freezer and other professional equipment for food preparation. Campbell expressed gratitude to VVHS for the use of the facilities for this fundraiser event.
MCHS with Yoli Bell president and Mary Smith, office manager talked about how eloquent and enthusiastic Campbell was in organizing this event to raise funds to help citizens of Mesquite in their struggles with cancer.
“We would like to thank the people of Mesquite for supporting this event,” said Mary Smith. “This help society is not tied to any national organization and all the funds raised through community events go to helping patients with prescriptions, special supplements, physical therapy, oxygen, counseling and other needs such as fares to out of state cancer hospitals and more.”
