After hearing the IGA Ritchies Pay It Forward promotion on the radio, Ian Ross executive principal Hastings Secondary College rang the radio station.

He proposed a pay it forward initiative on how the college could use five $100 IGA Ritchies food voucher.

The concept was to have year 12 hospitality students cook a meal for a family in the community who needed a helping hand.

"Not only does this give students an opportunity to gain the necessary hands-on experience needed in their studies, but it also teaches them about paying it forward and giving back to the community," Mr Ross said.

After the conversation went to air, Stewart Clark from Doppio or Nothing contacted the radio station and offered a further $200 and Trevor Lawrence from Hastings Fresh Solutions called and provided fruit and vegetables.

One family became five families the hospitality students could help.

Mr Ross believes that involving students in rich, authentic tasks demonstrates the importance of paying it forward and provides embedded 'real life' hospitality skills required for life after school.

"Part of what we do at the college is to encourage students to become better global citizens and catalysts for kindness in their communities," he said.

"These lessons create more well-rounded students with a broader perspective of the difference that they can make through real like experiences."

The meals were delivered by the Salvation Army to five families.

The three-course meal included chicken noodle soup, potato and leek soup, shepherd's pie, roast pork and lamb with roast vegetables, lemon meringue pie, apple pie and a fruit basket.

"This is a really good opportunity to help where we can for our community," student Hannah Faux said.

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