TORONTO — The Kids Cook to Care community meal program welcomes volunteers between the ages of six and 16 to learn about new cultures, basic cooking skills and the power of compassion through food.
Members of the program are taught how to make home-cooked meals by celebrity chefs in order to understand the proper ways of cooking and the importance behind serving the community.
“They’re learning how to give back at a young age and hopefully that will stay with them throughout their lives,” said Kids Cook to Care co-founder Jill Lewis.
After launching the program in 2009, Kids Cook to Care has served thousands of meals to those in need and they have been committed to inspiring families to support their communities with healthy, well-prepared food.
“I wanted to come first of all so I could cook because I like cooking and I could help people,” said volunteer Olivia Conacher.
For program members like Conacher, the only requirement to cook is a desire to help the public. There is no kitchen experience necessary when joining the program and volunteers are able to learn about different foods and different recipes through meal ingredients and recipes that are supplied generously though each volunteer chef.
“When they take the raw products and they can produce something spectacular at the end and feed people and put a smile on someone’s face, that’s everlasting,” said chef Cory Vitiello.
Kids Cook to Care partners with different shelters throughout the GTA due to the high need for high-quality meals in shelters. One of the programs they volunteer their time and meals to is Sanctuary, a Christian charitable organization that seeks to establish and develop holistic, inclusive and healthy community.
“The Sanctuary is a very special place in the city of Toronto. It takes in people, it helps them get back on their feet, it gives them skills, it gives them support,” said Lewis.
With the help from Kids Cook to Care, young volunteers are able to help make a positive change in their community and give back to places like Sanctuary in order to help those who seek access to basic human needs.
“What I think is wonderful is that we are building these bridges between kids and people who are falling on hard times. I think we realize we have far more in common than we don’t,” said Sanctuary outreach worker, Jay Barton.
Despite the warmth and satisfaction of eating these delicious, cooked meals, volunteers are able to learn why it is important to make them in the first place.
“It kind of makes a difference because you’re helping someone else, not helping yourself,” said volunteer Charlotte Conacher.
By exposing young children to a greater community, volunteers are able to meet new people, learn how to operate in a professional working environment, while most importantly paying it forward out of the goodness of their hearts.
“When you can teach kids the importance of giving back to the community, that’s something that you take with you for life,” said Vitiello.
The program hopes to empower children to make a difference in the world and find passion in volunteering their time and skills to do something for the benefit of others.
“I think you’re nurturing the spirit and the soul in the lives of future leaders,” said Barton.
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