In the Home Economics classroom at Meridian Senior High School, a diverse group of students has found both purpose and community through an organization that empowers them to make a difference. The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter brings together students with varied interests—from athletes to cheerleaders—united by their commitment to service, leadership, and culinary arts.

"We are a young group of teenagers that just want to make the community better," explains Minique Blake, capturing the spirit that drives this dedicated student organization. Under the guidance of their Advisor, Ms.LaVern Bartlett, these students develop valuable skills while serving others.

The chapter's signature event, International Night, showcases their culinary talents while bringing the community together. Held this past April, the event featured a cooking competition with teams preparing diverse dishes for judges and community members. This year's winning team impressed with strawberry glazed dill wings, caramel cake, and macaroni and cheese.

"International Night gives a chance for the community to get out if they don't have anywhere else to go," says Ziah Bartlett, highlighting the event's importance beyond just a culinary showcase. What began as a modest gathering has grown substantially—the most recent event drew approximately 130 attendees, though previous years have seen over 300 community members participating.

Community service forms the cornerstone of the FCCLA experience. Members regularly volunteer at the Southeast Missouri Food Bank in Sikeston, packaging food for distribution to food pantries. "My favorite thing about FCCLA is probably the food banks and feeding the homeless," shares Makiyah Blankenship. The students take pride in their ability to work efficiently, challenging themselves to pack more boxes each visit.

The chapter's entrepreneurial spirit shines through their numerous fundraising initiatives. They operate concession stands during volleyball and basketball games, conduct bake sales featuring their famous pumpkin cookies ("our bestseller," notes Ms. Bartlett), and prepare meal plates for special occasions. For Thanksgiving, they offered a $15 special with baked chicken, dressing, macaroni and cheese, green beans, rolls, and a soda.

These fundraising efforts support both their service projects and enrichment opportunities. Last year, the chapter raised approximately $3,000 through their Celebration of Excellence event, funding an end-of-year trip to St. Louis where students visited the zoo, shopped at the mall, watched a movie, and even created personalized stuffed animals at Build-A-Bear.

The FCCLA chapter has also established itself as a capable catering service within the school community. When the Regional Board of Education held a meeting at Meridian, FCCLA members prepared and served an impressive spread including twice-baked potatoes, chicken, and a variety of desserts. "The board members really liked everything that we had," shares one student proudly. Their culinary contributions extend to staff appreciation events as well—during National Education Week, they prepare complimentary breakfast for all staff featuring biscuits, gravy, bacon, and specialty items. The group also honors graduating seniors with special breakfast plates including pumpkin pancakes, demonstrating how their culinary skills become a vehicle for building community within the school.

FCCLA also provides professional development through field trips to the Career Technology Center in Cape Girardeau. "It has a lot of careers there like plumber, electrician, nail tech, nurse, or video photographer," explains Kenyell Gilbert. "They teach you all about the things you need to do and what you need to have to go there."

The organization takes pride in recognizing its members' contributions. Each year, they purchase custom sweatshirts from Silkworm—white this year, following red and black in previous years—and T-shirts for special occasions like Valentine's Day.

Perhaps most importantly, FCCLA creates a sense of belonging. "My favorite thing about FCCLA is how we can all come together as a family and how we treat each other," Monique reflects. "We take it serious, but at the same time we have that common ground where we know we gotta do this, we gotta earn this."

For community members wishing to support this impactful organization, donations can be directed to the FCCLA club at Meridian Senior High School, or they can attend events like International Night and the Celebration of Excellence program—opportunities to witness firsthand how these remarkable students are developing leadership skills while serving their community.