Cooking meals is just the beginning as local students learn teamwork, leadership and hospitality through a program that gives back to the community.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Community) — Inside the kitchen at the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains, the menu is important—but the lessons being served are even more meaningful.
After a three-year hiatus, the club’s Lead to Feed program has returned, bringing together teenagers to plan, prepare and serve meals for families and community guests while learning valuable life skills along the way.
The program was launched nearly a decade ago by former board member Wes Farragut, who wanted to give teens an opportunity to work as a team while serving others.
“It isn’t really about the food,” Farragut said. “It’s about building a team, teaching them to work together and giving back to the community.”
The students don’t simply follow recipes. They help create the menu, plan decorations, organize the event and serve the meals themselves. Over the years, they’ve prepared everything from cookouts to homemade pasta, cakes and pastries.
This year’s event welcomed parents, community members and former Lead to Feed participants, many of whom have since graduated from the program. Younger club members were also invited to attend, giving them a glimpse of what they can look forward to as they grow.
“We want to plant that seed early,” Farragut said. “Some of the younger kids who watched a few years ago are now the ones leading in the kitchen.”
For David Oakley, a senior at the club, the experience has been about much more than cooking.
“I’ve learned teamwork,” Oakley said. “Everybody is cooking together, helping each other and making sure everything gets done. I’ve also learned cooking skills, and I want to keep getting better.”
Oakley said returning to the program after its hiatus has been rewarding and hopes it continues to grow in the years ahead.
Farragut believes the program also prepares students for future careers in Sevier County’s hospitality industry, where teamwork, customer service and leadership are essential.
“In Sevier County, hospitality is everything,” he said. “Whether these kids become chefs, servers or work somewhere else, they’re learning skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives.”
While guests enjoy a home-cooked meal, the students gain confidence, leadership experience and the satisfaction of giving back—one plate at a time.
For the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains, Lead to Feed isn’t just about feeding people. It’s about helping young people discover that serving others is one of the most rewarding ingredients for success.
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