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FLORIDA - The Salvation Army is continuing its annual holiday meal program by partnering with Valencia College’s culinary department to prepare and package 7000 Thanksgiving meals for families across Central Florida.
The effort is part of a long-running community initiative aimed at supporting residents who may not have the ability to prepare a traditional holiday meal on their own.
According to organizers, the large-scale meal preparation takes place inside Valencia College’s commercial kitchens, where culinary students and instructors work with Salvation Army staff and volunteers to cook and assemble thousands of complete holiday dinners.
The meals include traditional Thanksgiving items such as turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, and a variety of pies.
Faculty members at Valencia College state that the project provides students with practical, hands-on experience in high-volume meal production.
Students learn how to manage timing, food safety, large-batch cooking techniques, and coordinated kitchen operations, skills that are essential in many professional culinary environments.
The college considers this project an extension of its curriculum, offering a real-world training setting that cannot be replicated in typical classroom exercises.
The Salvation Army reports that the meals will be distributed to households identified through its holiday assistance programs, as well as through local outreach partners.
The organization says demand for Thanksgiving support remains high across Central Florida, and the annual collaboration with Valencia College enables them to reach thousands of individuals who rely on donated meals during the holiday season.
Both organizations say the partnership remains an important part of Central Florida’s holiday support network, and they plan to continue the program in the years ahead.