While the season for giving has ended for some, others, such as the administrative staff at Jamaica’s Bustamante Hospital for Children, are still enjoying the festivities after being gifted medical supplies for the new year from the Young Chef’s Cooking and Baking Club.
Chef Latoya Panton has done it once again! Positively impacting the community through her Delicious Occasions Cooking Classes.
On Friday, January 6, 2022, Chef Panton and seven of her young chefs donated two infant scales and a mobile pediatric blood pressure monitor to the facility. Not only has she fulfilled her commitment to giving back to the community, but she has left smiles on the faces of the workers who expressed the institution’s dire needs.
“It was a festive mood!” Panton said, describing the atmosphere after handing over the medical equipment.
“Their needs are many, but we did the best we could in meeting their demands,” Panton added.
The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood, Senior Medical Officer Dr. Michelle-Ann Richards-Dawson, Deputy Matron Ms. Shailee Neish, and Pediatric Consultant Dr. Natalie McNeil-Beecher who were all on hand to receive the supplies expressed gratitude to Panton and her team.
Chef Panton, who has been offering cooking classes for 17 years to both children and adults, made it her duty to allow her students, particularly the children to positively impact those within the community.
The program, geared toward children ages four to 16, provide cooking classes taught by committed and experienced instructors so each student feels confident in the kitchen.
In helping the young chefs grow, Panton shared that at the end of each term, the children from the cooking club have a pop-up gourmet restaurant called Tarragon and Thyme, where professional chefs come in and execute dishes on their behalf. However, the young chefs are usually the ones who operate the restaurant.
The proceeds from the pop-up restaurant go to community service and once again the Bustamante Hospital for Children is the recipient of the gifted supplies.
Chef Panton said her students were engaged in handing over the supplies to those from the institution. However, she expressed her disappointment in being unable to interact with the children on the ward this time around.
“When we had given to the hospital before, we did get to engage because we did it through the Bustamante Foundation when they were having a treat at the hospital, but we didn’t get to engage this time with children from the hospital,” she said disappointedly.
Though Panton and her young chefs could not interact with the hospitalized children, they were able to leave an indelible mark on the workers. Not only were the staff moved by the donation, but so were Panton’s students, as it reflected their efforts in impacting lives.
“It had a great impact on them as they would see what all their hard work had gone to and they were able to contribute to the hospital. What we teach is not just cooking, they also have to learn to give back to communities and this was one such activity from their hard work. I’m hoping that this will motivate them to want to do more in terms of community service,” Panton said, adding that it is important for young people to assist those who are less fortunate.
While emphasizing her appreciation for community service, Panton thanked organizations for making the donation possible: Gore Family Foundation, Chas E. Ramson with their Elle and Vire Brand, Massy Distribution through their Hunts and Barilla Brands, CB Chicken, Copperwood Pork, Caribbean Passions, Nations Choice Meats and Rainforest Seafoods.
With the support of her sponsors, she hopes this year she will acquire sufficient funds from the pop-up gourmet restaurant so her community impact can be greater and more transformational.
“For me, it’s just something that I enjoy doing, helping out in whatever way I can. I love being of service to my community, and my country. I’m always motivated each time we do this, and I’m hoping that this year, we’ll be able to do the restaurant in a bigger way,” Chef Panton said.
