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A collaboration with Ride with Valor gives students practical experience and an opportunity to give
At the Intersection of Heartfelt and Impact: Students Turn Skills into Service for Veterans and First Responders
A collaboration with Ride with Valor gives students practical experience and an opportunity to give back to the community.
A Hands-On Lesson in Service and Gratitude
What does it look like when education meets real-world purpose? For students at Lorain County JVS, it looked like hundreds of Thanksgiving meals — thoughtfully prepared and packaged by Project LIFE and Culinary Arts students for veterans and first responders across five counties.
Partnering with Ride with Valor, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders, Lorain County JVS students transformed practical learning experiences into meaningful community service, assembling 450 complete Thanksgiving dinners that were later delivered by Ride with Valor volunteers.
Ride with Valor praised the project as a model of community spirit and collaboration.
“Our Thanksgiving meal delivery was an incredible success — and it was made possible by an entire community working hand-in-hand to support our Veterans and local First Responders,” the organization shared. “A huge thank you to the Lorain County JVS culinary students, whose hard work and skill produced more than 450 meals, and to the amazing students from the Project LIFE Program, who packaged all of the meals. Together, we showed what community truly means.”
Project LIFE: Skills with Purpose
Project LIFE is a national transition-based program dedicated to preparing students with disabilities for life after high school. Students develop workplace readiness, independence, and real-world experience through hands-on learning.
LCJVS Supervisor Michelle McClintic said “the initiative highlights the power of giving students a chance to see their work make a real difference”.
“This project shows our students that their skills matter and can make a real difference in someone’s life,” McClintic said. “Ride with Valor has given our students an opportunity to combine technical training with meaningful purpose. I am incredibly proud of our students and staff members who worked so hard to bring this partnership to life.”
Career-Tech Skills in Action
Annette Tibbs, a Ride with Valor volunteer who initially reached out to LCJVS about the initiative, shared her perspective on working with students and staff.
“Working with the team at Lorain County JVS was an outstanding experience. When I reached out, they were immediately receptive, especially after learning it would help support veterans.”
Tibbs praised the students’ professionalism and engagement throughout the project.
“The school team was very organized, and the communication with me was excellent. When I dropped off items for dinner, the students were so helpful. I really enjoyed talking to them and hearing about what they were doing for the project.”
She hopes other organizations partner with career-tech programs like LCJVS in the future.
“I hope organizations like ours continue to reach out. These programs offer amazing opportunities and can make a real difference in the community.”
Collaboration Across Programs
Multiple LCJVS programs and community partners joined forces to make the project a success, including:
- Project LIFE 101, led by instructor Victoria Santiago
- Project LIFE 201 Hospitality, led by instructor Katie Berardi
- Project LIFE 201 Maintenance Services, led by instructor Bill Ready
- Culinary Arts, led by instructor Chef Jordan Krystowski
- Connections Academy, led by instructor Laura Eland
- UCP of Greater Cleveland, an outside partner who assisted with meal packaging
This collaboration reinforced the power of teamwork across school programs and community organizations, ensuring the project ran smoothly and efficiently. “The high school has taken a serious step forward in creating meaningful, work-based learning opportunities and external relation activities,” emphasized High School Principal Megan Champagne.
Berardi shared her excitement about the partnership:
“When Annette Tibbs approached me about partnering on this amazing project, I couldn’t have said ‘yes’ any faster. This initiative not only directly impacts individuals who have dedicated their lives to protect and serve, but it also gave my students the opportunity to see just how powerful working together to better the community can be.”
Learning Through Real-World Experience
Participating in the Thanksgiving initiative reinforced business operations, service standards, and the behind-the-scenes effort that makes hospitality work successful.
“It taught my students how to plan and prepare for large-scale events and provided them with firsthand experience in the hard work, organization, and professionalism required in the hospitality field,” Berardi said.
Principal’s Perspective: Purpose Beyond the Classroom
Champagne praised the project for combining education and service:
“Our students learn best when their work is tied to purpose. This project brought together technical skills, collaboration, communication, and community service in a way that shows students how their learning extends far beyond the classroom. I am incredibly proud of their dedication and the impact they made for local veterans and first responders.”
Making an Impact, One Meal at a Time
Thanks to this partnership, hundreds of veterans and first responders across five counties received a warm Thanksgiving meal and a message of appreciation. For students, the experience reinforced skills that empower independence, careers, and confidence. For Ride with Valor, it strengthened their mission to serve those who have served their communities.
Through collaboration, career training, and compassion, Lorain County JVS continues to help students learn not just how to do a job — but how to make a difference.
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