In January, Martin Meylin Middle School students began a fundraising project called the Soup Group. The group, which comprises students in the school's life skills class, makes soup from scratch. It then sells the soup to school faculty members to raise money for field trips and classroom materials.

The Soup Group sold 54 quarts of soup to teachers at Martin Meylin under the supervision of special education teacher Kristina Canty and former kitchen manager Lisa Lawson. In March, the group plans to make another batch of soup to sell to school staff members and will extend its sale to the administration building. "It was very successful in January. People like it, so we'd like to continue it; the money raised from the fundraiser goes right back to the kids and their trips," Canty said.

The students in the life skills class are involved with each step of the soup cooking process, assisted by donations of aprons, hair nets, and other supplies from local businesses. In the past, the students have participated in other fundraisers such as selling magnets, but this is the first year that they have made soup to raise money.

Once a month, Canty takes her students in the life skills class on a community-based instruction trip. The trips serve as a way for the students to practice the skills that they learn in class out in the world as well as gain experience in working environments. In the past, the life skills class has visited the North Museum, participated in educational activities at Lancaster County Central Park and taken grocery trips for culinary projects. At Weis Markets, the students have stocked shelves, scanned groceries and completed vocational activities behind the scenes.

"The community around us has been fantastic," Canty said. "The kids get real-life experience on these trips and enjoy being out in the community." Canty hopes to use the funds raised from the next soup sale to rent a bus to take students on a trip in May to the Barnstormers' stadium in Lancaster city with several other classes.

Canty said that she also hopes to use the money from the fundraiser to acquire equipment to turn part of her classroom into a sensory room for the students. The funds will also support a program that Canty utilizes to reward students' behavior with prizes. In addition to behavioral lessons, students in the life skills class practice functional reading and math skills such as reading a menu or calculating the tip for a restaurant bill. "We go out and practice these skills in the community, things like being patient while waiting in line," said Canty. "It's for the students to be able to apply these things that they've learned."