Lynn Professor Gives A Helping Hand
The giving spirit has long been an important part of the Lynn University experience. For assistant professor Craig Schmantowsky, it manifests itself each week, as the culinary expert gives of his time to feed the homeless in the area.
Each Friday morning, as the sun comes up, Schmantowsky can be found in the Boca Helping Hands kitchen. The classically trained chef takes the vegetables donated by area restaurants and supermarkets and prepares dishes for the lunch crowd.
“I take what the donors provide and then try to turn it into something special for the people who come for lunch,” said Schmantowsky. “We get a lot of greens, so I’ll steam them, sauté them, maybe add some onions and garlic and make a nice sauce. And then we make main dishes for them such as meatloaf or shepherd’s pie.”
For the hundreds of people who make their way to Boca Helping Hands each day, the free food represents desperately needed nourishment and a starting point on their way to self-sufficiency.
“There are a lot of people who really need this,” said Schmantowsky, a two-decade-veteran of the Lynn faculty. “We get individuals and families for whom this is their main meal.”
Lynn sends dozens of students to the charitable organization each January during the freshman-class Citizenship Project. Students pack pantry bags, mark cans, serve food and assist the many people who depend on Boca Helping Hands to make ends meet.
“It’s a great organization,” said Schmantowsky. “I’m just happy that I can do my part.”
Boca Helping Hands provides medical and financial assistance, along with education and job training to the homeless and impoverished of South Palm Beach County.
Article contributed by Theodore Curtis, associate professor, College of Business and Management. Courtesy of Lynn University Marketing. Read more by visiting lynn.edu/news.
