Lane County Youth Services hosting free community holiday meal on Wednesday, Dec. 18

The free 15^th Annual Community Holiday Meal with Lane County Youth Services is coming up on Wednesday, December 18. All community members are invited and welcome to join Lane County Youth Services in celebrating the holiday season with food prepared by students in the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Education Center Culinary Arts Program. The meal includes turkey, baked ham, several traditional side dishes, and dessert.

"Our annual Holiday Meal is something our students look forward to all year," said Senior Juvenile Justice Supervisor Shellye Reynoso. "It's a chance for them to demonstrate their skills and to do something wonderful for their community. We're all looking forward to inviting people back this year and feeding them really well while we celebrate the holiday season."

The meal will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18, in the Lane County Youth Services Carmichael Room (2727 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Eugene).

The meal is free and open to everyone. It also includes a free raffle for prizes and free food boxes to take home.

No reservation is required.

About the MLK Education Center

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Education Center serves middle and high school students who have an active case with Lane County Youth Services. This program is a collaboration between Youth Services and the Lane Education Service District (Lane ESD). In addition to academics, the MLK Education Center provides vocational opportunities, including in the culinary arts. The Culinary Arts Program offers youth the opportunity to learn different jobs involved in food service and catering. Students gain skills and learn to safely use the equipment in an institutional and commercial kitchen that prepares meals for youth in detention, a residential treatment program, and more. Students may participate in all aspects of catering including preparing foods, serving, and customer service.