On a cold, drizzly, January afternoon, the Idaho Lottery made a special Classroom Wishlist visit to Middleton Middle School to Anne Gigray-Kinley’s Food and Finance class. Her successful program serves up practical life skills and culinary delights for 400-500 students each year.

Given the popularity of the class, it was no surprise that her four fully working kitchens were starting to show their age.

“A lot of our equipment, especially the stoves, are starting to show their wear and tear. The stoves don’t balance evenly and many of them do not heat up correctly,” said Anne when she received her award.

The Idaho Lottery jump-started her replacement needs, and wish list items, to the tune of $6,200 worth of new cooking equipment, cake pans, and four brand-new stoves. The ceremony turned into something more like a delayed Christmas as the students ripped open a dozen over-sized Wooh! boxes with cooking equipment. New knife sets, air fryers, measuring cups, and other essential cooking utensils were provided – all in time for the start of their third trimester of school and the spring cake bake off competition at the school.

But it would not have been possible without the support from the Idaho Lottery.

“There are some things I would have ended up having to purchase myself,” added Anne. “Thank you, so, so much. The day I got the email saying I’d gotten this award, I was like, “Wooh!’, oh my gosh. It’s the answer to everything. I truly, truly appreciate the Idaho Lottery for coming to Middleton Middle School and helping support all the things are kids are doing.”

Anne, you’re welcome. Can we be invited back to judge the cake baking competition in the spring?

The Idaho Lottery invites all teachers across the Gem State to visit the Classroom Wishlist program website.