Again this year, the life-skills class at Washington High School presented the Pam Pack Café as a part of its curriculum. Class members take reservations and serve meals — once a month during the school year — to the faculty and staff at their school.

The students prepare the meals from the beginning, starting with grocery shopping. As a class, the students plan and prepare each menu for the café. On the day of the event, the hostess greets visitors at the door and takes their tickets. Other class members have a well-planned assembly line, including parts of the meal and dessert, in place to deliver meals to their customers. These exercises provide effective training for students who face challenges many people will never understand.

Proceeds raised from the café are donated to a worthwhile cause. Earlier this year while on a visit to the Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS Department, life-skills students made an important decision. This year’s proceeds would help support their local firefighters.

Laurie Lietz explained that her class made this decision after talking with firefighters about how the fire station runs and learning the department often relies on monetary contributions to buy equipment for which the city does not provide funding.

The final café for this school year was held May 13. On May 17, the class presented the department’s auxiliary $350. That money will be used to help buy a John Deere Gator for the department. A Gator is a small 4×4 vehicle. The department plans to use the Gator to transport patients and/or equipment in some emergency situations.