December 14, 2009 - Students at Loudonville Elementary will be able to make some tasty treats for their families during the holiday season this year. The King Arthur Flour Company of Norwich, VT visited the school on December 11 to teach 138 fourth- through sixth-grade students how to bake fresh, nutritious bread and other foods from scratch through its Life Skills Bread Baking Program. Students will then use their new-found skill – along with ingredients donated by King Arthur Flour – to bake their own loaves for donation to the Capital City Rescue Mission in Albany, N.Y.

“They’re learning the value and the joy of giving something back to the community,” Senior Life Skills Instructor, Paula Gray says. “Food pantries are delighted to have 138 loaves of freshly baked homemade bread to offer the people they serve.”

Gray says she loves teaching children the skill of bread baking – a hands-on way for children to learn math, science, and cultural traditions all while having fun – and hopes they bring that skill home and share it with loved ones. The program helps involve children with community service, too.

The students will bake their loaves of bread over the weekend and will return on Monday with one loaf ready for donation.

“I think the biggest opportunity is that it gives the students something to do at home with their families, while also giving back to the community at the same time,” Loudonville Elementary counselor and event organizer, Sarah Wing said. “I look forward to all the bread that will be arriving on Monday from our Loudonville families and I know Capital City Rescue Mission will greatly appreciate it.”