NHS helps set-up, grill, and serve the people of Southmoor for their annual picnic
Senior Nick Lednev flips burgers while helping out with NHS. Photo by Mathew Fabian
On August 26, 2012, the Thomas Jefferson National Honors Society sent volunteers to help the Southmoor Homeowners’ Association with their annual picnic at Southmoor Park by having the volunteers grill, serve food, and bring a smiling face to the neighborhood.
Volunteers started work at board member Blair Perron’s house, cutting up lettuce and tomatoes as condiments for the burgers to be later cooked. Nick Lednev and Kelly Honaman were both at Perron’s house, early in the day. “We cut up so many pounds of lettuce and tomatoes,” said Lednev at the picnic. “You would have thought we were feeding a small army.”
As a matter of fact, they were feeding a small army. During the Southmoor Picnic over 300 burgers and 200 hot dogs were cooked, over 300 Kraft Cheese slices were used, and all of these needed buns, condiments, and chips to go along with them. Cooking the burgers started early at the park, with Matthew Fabian and Dr. Paul Bottone, another board member, at the grill. They cooked 50 burgers before the event started so they could be prepared before the people started arriving in hordes. Leftovers were donated to a local women’s shelter.
With the grills blazing, the heat was on. “Each grill held 16 burgers to cook, and they had to be replenished each time a cooked one was taken off,” said Lednev.
People continued to show up, and some even went through the line multiple times as NHS members continued to grill and serve. “It’s nice to see the turnout,” said Honaman at the picnic. People commented on how well the board members served the picnic. Most were very appreciative, knowing that they love to see teens helping in their community.
Other organizations were also at the outing, including the S. Quincy Subway and Fiocchi’s Pizzeria. Subway handed out sandwiches and cookies as people walked through the food line. In addition, ice cream was provided by UMB.
NHS continues to serve the TJ Community, but the Southmoor Homeowners’ Picnic has become more than just service hours; it’s become tradition.
