Liberty culinary students bake for local family

When students in Liberty High School’s Culinary Arts class heard about a local family in need, they put their burgeoning cooking skills to good use. Just in time for Thanksgiving, they decided to bake pies and sell them for $15 each to raise money.

With the help of nearby elementary and middle schools, teacher Lisa Phillips spread word about the project, and community members eagerly responded.

“The orders have just poured in,” Phillips said. “It’s been amazing.”

With 117 orders and counting, Phillips and a group of 35 student volunteers got to work this week making apple, pecan, and pumpkin pies after school. Liberty parents, students, staff members, and the local QFC grocer donated enough ingredients and money so that the family will receive almost 100 percent of the profits. That’s a lot of dough: about $1,500!

The family who will receive the pie funds has hit particularly hard times this holiday season, according to Phillips. The wife had to leave her job to care for her husband, who has a serious illness. It has been a struggle for them to financially care for their three children.

One person wrote in an e-mail to order a pie: “I just want to thank you personally for doing this! You will make such a difference in this family’s holiday season. They are friends of mine and are wonderful people.”

The folks who ordered should be pleased, according to Phillips, not only because their money will significantly help a District family, but also because the bakers are award-winning culinarians who often earn scholarships to top national culinary programs.

“These are really good pies!” she said.

Pictured above: Senior Monica Anucinski prepares pies.