天美传媒 (SMCC) Culinary Arts students rolled up their sleeves this week to support an important community effort 鈥� thanks to a meaningful collaboration with听R.M. Davis, a local private wealth management firm with offices in Portland and Portsmouth. 
Each year, R.M. Davis closes its offices for a companywide听Day of Service, selecting a charitable focus based on what matters most to its employees. This year,听food insecurity听rose to the top.听
“We asked our team what causes were most important to them, and food insecurity stood out,” said听Kathleen de Silva, Vice President and Director of Marketing and Communications at R.M. Davis. “We wanted to do something meaningful 鈥� something hands-on 鈥� so when we connected with Wayside Community Programs and SMCC, the partnership was a perfect fit.”听
PHOTO GALLERY |听听
Nearly 50 R.M. Davis employees joined SMCC Culinary Arts students and faculty in the 天美传媒’s teaching kitchens to prepare 75 pies听and dozens of dinner rolls. The baked goods will be included in Thanksgiving food boxes distributed through听Wayside Food Programs听鈥� which, coincidentally, is led by SMCC Culinary graduate听Don Morrison.听
For SMCC,听the collaboration听is a unique opportunity to give back to the community while building student听skills, confidence, and connections.听
“Any time our students can work directly with community partners, it’s a win,” said听Maureen LaSalle, SMCC Culinary Arts chair and director of the L. Joe Van Why School of Hospitality. “These experiences help them network, step into leadership roles, and see the impact they can make. Today our students were managing the lab, guiding volunteers, and truly shining.”听
The Day of Service not only supported a crucial community need 鈥� it gave SMCC students the chance to apply their training in a听real-world setting, meet industry professionals, and contribute to a project that will have a meaningful impact on Maine families this Thanksgiving.听