Fall 2017 Pant-A-Thon - Putting The Skills & Talents of Ottawa Home Ec Association Members to Great Use!

September is the time of year when the skills and talents of many Ottawa Home Economics Association members’ are put to great use volunteering for the students at Algonquin College. Tuesday, September 5 (Orientation Day) marked the start of the Fall 2017 intake of new Algonquin College Culinary and Baking Students, and the 5th Pant-a-Thon held at the school. ​

​OHEA & Ottawa HEA members who contributed to make this event a success include: Linda Robbins, Lynn Stewart, Mary Johnston, Ellen Boynton, Ellie Topp, Linda Reasbeck, Anne-Marie Ellis, Cathy Enright, Betty Young, Audrey Schryer, and Gisele Aucoin (former member).

Fall has the largest intake of students for the year, with the possibility of about 600 pairs of pants for hemming. Each of the Culinary and Baking students received two pairs of pants with their uniform. The objective of the Pant-a-Thon team was to ensure that all students would have at least one pair of hemmed pants for their first “in-kitchen” class and their second pair by the end of Orientation Week. While not all students took advantage of this service, this year 305 pairs of pants were hemmed for culinary students and 112 pairs for baking students.

The pant hemming service also has a growing clientele from several other programs within the Hospitality and Tourism Faculty including Restaurant Operations (servers), Esthetician students, and Specialty Programs (including culinary apprenticeships, kitchen stewards and aboriginal students). The hemming fee of $15 for two pairs of pants goes to the Algonquin College Food Cupboard for students in need. Based on this intake, we hope to donate more than $4,000.

The Pant-a-Thon is the ‘brain child’ of Linda Robbins, a long time Ottawa Home Ec. member and her former work colleague, Angela Ierullo. Having properly hemmed pants contributes to the safety of students and teachers in the kitchen, sanitation, and professionalism. Linda and Angela, both graduates of the Algonquin College Culinary Program, work with staff on logistics, and organize and coordinate the volunteers. Algonquin College has three intakes of students per year (September, January and May) and Ottawa Home Ec. members assist in each of the intakes.

This project gives Ottawa Home Economics Association members a great opportunity to contribute to the local community as well as socialize while working together on a great service project. Volunteers don’t need to be able to sew as there are plenty of non-sewing jobs to be done. The next Pant-a-Thon will take place during the week of January 8, 2018.