Twenty-five members of the Bernard Middle School Character Coalition recently put their culinary skills to the test when they prepared dinner for guests at the Ronald McDonald House in midtown St. Louis.

The students studied several area charities before picking the Ronald McDonald House, according to a district news release. They said it would have been a lot easier just to collect money and make a donation. But they wanted to physically do something to help people in the community and the Ronald McDonald House gave them the opportunity to do that, the release stated.

With the guidance of teachers Mary Drastal and Sadie Lewis, the students cooked a chicken and pasta casserole, plus salad donated by Outback Steak House and freshly baked lemon squares for dessert.

The Ronald McDonald House gives families a place to stay while their child is hospitalized for extended medical treatments.

A video of the students is below: