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Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative Students Participate in End Hunger New England’s Meal Packaging Event

DARTMOUTH — Executive Director Catherine Cooper is pleased to share that Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC) students recently volunteered at End Hunger New England’s Meal Packaging Event. 

DARTMOUTH — Executive Director Catherine Cooper is pleased to share that Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC) students recently volunteered at End Hunger New England’s Meal Packaging Event. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, 10 students from SMEC’s Transitional Services Program and volunteers from the SMEC’s Supporting Adults for Inclusive Living Program (SAIL) spent the morning packaging meals ready to eat at the Fort Taber Community Center in New Bedford. 

At the event, students measured portions of non-perishable food products which were then placed in boxes to be distributed to food pantries in the New Bedford area. Meals packaged during the event will feed approximately 30,000 families in the New Bedford community.

The students were excited to participate and expressed how they felt taking part in the event.

“We worked as a team,” said Ryan Hurst-Dumont.

“It was fun. Are we going again?” said Derrick Reynolds.

“We helped people in need,” said Dakota Bussey. “I feel good.”

“I felt proud of what I did,” said Spencer Rogers.

Transitional Services Program students, ages 18-21, regularly participate in community events to enhance their social skills, learn functional job skills and practice following directions, while fulfilling their transitional goals and learning independence. 

Students in the Transitional Services Program have also previously volunteered at local animal shelters, food pantries and the Gifts to Give organization. 

SMEC’s SAIL program supports students after they turn 22 to increase their vocational, social and independent living skills. SAIL is funded through contracts with multiple state agencies.

“I would like to recognize the students and staff who participated in the End Hunger event today,” said Executive Director Cooper. “These types of events encourage our students to become more involved in their community and help to develop and grow their communication skills.” 

About End Hunger New England

The Outreach Program is a non-profit corporation that organizes food packaging events around the country. With more than 675 million meals packaged to date, the organization’s mission is to provide safe water, food, medical care and education to those in need, at home and abroad.

ABOUT SMEC 

The Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative is a public education collaborative established in 1975. SMEC is an extension of 10 public school systems, which make up its membership. The present membership includes the Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, Rochester and Old Rochester Regional public school districts. SMEC accepts students for enrollment in its programs from school systems throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. The Collaborative’s programs and services are locally based and locally directed and are designed to supplement the special education resources of its member districts.

SMEC offers a variety of services for students with special needs aged 3-21 as well as adults with developmental disabilities. To learn more about the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative, visit smecollaborative.org.

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