UNE supports Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital through annual dining fundraiser

The University of New England again partnered with its dining services provider, Parkhurst Dining, to host its annual Caring for Kids luncheon, a ticketed fundraiser supporting The MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Held in Arthur P. Girard Innovation Hall on UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, the event invited students, faculty, professional staff, and nearby community members to share a meal prepared with ingredients donated by over 10 local vendors, with all proceeds going to benefit pediatric patients and families. 

Parkhurst Dining, a contract food service provider that services colleges, universities, and corporations, each year holds the company-wide Caring for Kids challenge to support children’s hospitals in its local communities. 

Left: Kayla Maniery, director of catering at UNE Parkhurst, takes attendees’ tickets. Right: A dining services employee serves a benefit luncheon to guests.

UNE’s 2025 luncheon raised $3,000, double last year’s figures alone, toward the campaign that runs through Dec. 12. The company hopes to ultimately raise $10,000 to support Maine’s only full-service children’s hospital, which is located at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland and is a division of the state’s largest health care system.

The event also supported the UNE Portland Campus Food Pantry, which collected nonperishable items throughout the afternoon to help address student food insecurity on the Portland Campus.

UNE is committed to the communities where … it’s rooted." — Chris McCarry, UNE Student Life

Chris McCarry, B.A., associate director of Student Life at UNE, said the luncheon illustrated how the campus community supports both its students and local partners. 

“This is a campus community that supports itself and supports one another,” McCarry said. “Our on-campus food pantry gets a ton of support from within the University through Parkhurst and through people who donate money and goods every week. It is a great demonstration of how this community has each other’s backs.” 

McCarry said the day’s dual focus — supporting children’s health and removing barriers to student well-being at UNE — underscored the University’s mission of bettering lives by encouraging its community members to do their part in improving community and planetary health.

“It shows that UNE is committed to the communities where the University exists and where it’s rooted,” he said. “Wellness runs through everything we do: for students, for our neighbors, and in our community partnerships throughout Maine.” 

(Clockwise, from top left): Gabriel Draculan, center, (D.N.P., ’27) with friends; students serve themselves; guests are served lunch; a row of desserts; and donation cards placed at each table.

Kayla Maniery, director of catering at Parkhurst Dining at UNE, said the event is close to her heart as a former pediatric patient herself. That ethos of service, she said, is shared by all members of UNE’s Parkhurst team through both community service and student engagement.

“Giving back is something our dining team takes to heart,” Maniery said. “Whether it’s this luncheon, our ice cream socials, or the holiday initiatives we do throughout the year, we always aim to bring a little joy where we can.”

Giving back connects us … to each other and to the people we’re here to serve.”  — Gabriel Draculan ’27

Maniery added that, in December, the dining team will visit the children’s hospital to deliver holiday cards UNE students hand-wrote for its pediatric patients, plus cookies “to help brighten their day.” 

Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia student Gabriel Draculan attended the luncheon and spoke about the significance of participating in his first Thanksgiving in the United States. 

“I feel like there’s a community purpose behind it,” said Draculan (D.N.P., ’27). “We’re sharing something important — not just because it’s Thanksgiving, but because we want to give back from what we’re thankful for. I’m thankful to be in this program, so I want to pay it forward.”

Draculan, who cares for critically ill patients during his clinical training, said supporting a fundraiser that benefits hospitalized children adds another layer of purpose.

“Seeing people in the hospital makes me think we should give back to them, as well,” he said. “In my case, I can give back by being service-oriented — making sure patients are comfortable, making sure their care is supported, and doing what I can outside the hospital to complement that.”

Left: UNE employees share the joy. Right: A list of local sponsors, including Grandy Organics and Native Maine, among others.

Dental medicine student and Parkhurst marketing intern Sophia Zagaja (D.M.D., ’28) helped promote and document the event on campus and on social media. She said the luncheon offered another way for graduate and professional students to contribute to a local cause. 

“It’s really great because we all do a lot of volunteer work in our programs,” Zagaja said. “Events like this give us another opportunity to donate and give back to the community.” 

Zagaja added that the luncheon also encouraged informal connections among students across health professions, both graduate and undergraduate on New England’s only dedicated interprofessional health education campus.

“At UNE, we have a lot of interdisciplinary studies. Events like this let us connect across programs even if we don’t have classes together,” she said. “It is nice to chat, enjoy a meal, and work toward the common good.” 

Maniery shared Zagaja’s enthusiasm for both UNE’s and Parkhurst’s partnership and dedication to a shared public mission. 

“The support from our vendors, students, professional staff, faculty, and the wider UNE community has been incredible,” Maniery said. “I’m grateful to be part of a community that comes together so strongly for such an important cause.”

Draculan said that connection encouraged him and his peers to understand their roles not just as clinicians but as neighbors, advocates, and partners in community well-being.

“We’re sharing something meaningful,” he said. “Giving back connects us, both to each other and to the people we’re here to serve.”