PORT TOWNSEND — Guests at the Port Townsend Winter Shelter got a special treat last week — a bag of assorted Christmas cookies prepared by the Port Townsend High School culinary arts class.
Teacher Jennifer Kruse and shelter Board Member Kim Hammers delivered 30 bags of assorted treats to the shelter in the basement of the American Legion Hall at 209 Monroe St.
Each bag contained sugar cookies, peppermint bark, shortbread and truffles.
Kruse said the class spent several days preparing the cookies.
Since they worked an hour at a time, the labor needed to be divided.
On Friday, the class bagged the cookies in preparation for the delivery, which was taken on by Kruse and Hammers because no one younger than 18 is allowed in the shelter.
This is the third year the high school has prepared cookies and a holiday meal for shelter guests.
The shelter opened for the season in November and is scheduled to close in March unless the weather remains cold.
The class, which facilitates mentorships for students in local restaurants, prepares food for the shelter a few times a year, Kruse said.
“This is great for the guests and great for the kids,” Kruse said.
“It gives them the opportunity to plan and prepare an entire meal.”
Open from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily, the shelter has beds for 23 men and eight women, said Kathy Morgan, housing program manager for Olympic Community Action Programs, or OlyCAP.
Additional beds can be added if there is need, Morgan said.
The shelter is operated by the Community Outreach Association Shelter Team, several churches, OlyCAP and other community partners.
For more information, call 360-796-0420.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.