In a display of community spirit, students in Hutchinson’s REACH program recently turned the tables as they donned aprons and transformed into culinary hosts for a holiday banquet.
“I really think that these nights are super cool because we interact with students on a daily, weekly, monthly basis,” youth leader Amy DuFrene said. “But now you can see and meet their families or a part of their families. So it’s a really neat experience.”
REACH — which stands for relationships, education, accountability, character and hard work — is a voluntary program in Hutchinson Middle School and High School that helps students academically, socially and emotionally. REACH students participate in numerous activities in and out of school, including the holiday banquet for families and friends at Flank Steakhouse in downtown Hutchinson.
“I’m really glad I got the front desk job,” REACH student Chloe Larson said. “I prefer to greet and direct people.”
The night was for students to have a safe space to practice skills they’ve learned in the classroom, and to learn additional skills.
“Something I’ve learned from this experience is socializing,” Larson said. “But also, I’ve learned about how the managing goes inside of a business like (Flank Steakhouse).”
Students were fully ingrained into every process of the night — hosting, serving, cooking and cleaning.
“It felt good knowing people were eating the food we made and were enjoying it,” REACH student and cook for the night Jordyn Arndt said. “It was a fun experience and Vince (Maertz, Flank owner) led us through the process step by step, so we didn’t mess up.”
Vince and Amanda Maertz opened Flank Steakhouse in 2021 with Vince covering the kitchen and Amanda running the dining area. Together they run the restaurant, and the night with REACH was no different. Both were helped students, making sure the night went off without a hitch.
“I hosted tonight because of who they (REACH) are,” Vince Maertz said. “I have what you could say is a similar background to a lot of these kids. They’re going through what I have gone through or went through when I was their age. They want to be a success because they want to do something with their lives. And I want to be a part of that, too. I want to be here to help shape their future in any way I can, utilizing this restaurant. There are a couple of people that are currently or formerly of this program that I have in my kitchen and they’re just wonderful.”
The couple hosted and foot part of the bill for the entire experience, the rest was covered by a grant by the ISD423 Foundation.
“Tonight, it’s not about profit,” he said. “It’s about giving back to the program that has given us some incredible people.”
While the night was busy with almost every table filled, it didn’t stop the REACH staff from taking time to acknowledge their students and the people who make the program possible.
“We love our kids and their families,” REACH teacher Rhoda Hubbard said. “REACH is relationships, and I can’t think of a better juxtaposition of relationships than the kids working with each other (and) with their families. The relationship the community has, and the relationship this business has with this program is just awesome.”
It is thanks to community, Hubbard said, that the REACH program raised $10,753 through the Spooky Sprint in October for REACH Gives Scholarships. A REACH senior going to college will receive the scholarship, which can be used toward college expenses such as tuition and books.
