WE HAVE A WINNER!

The Nourishing Kitchen of New York City

The Nourishing Kitchen of New York City, Inc., also known as "The Kitchen," is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that opened its doors in 2008 to address the lack of high quality nutrition, poor health and hunger issues facing the poverty-stricken East Harlem community in New York City.

This summer, it will be offering a Junior Chef program for kids ages 6-13. Students visit The Kitchen to learn the ins and outs of the hospitality industry, from prep to plate. This program was created to connect underserved and undernourished youth to the culinary arts while educating students and families on issues of nutrition and wellness. Additionally, the students receive materials to prepare the recipes at home with their families, plus a local gym membership to engage in physical activity. Participants also have the opportunity to work in its community garden plots, learning about how food is produced before reaching the table. Through this program, students learn how to protect themselves and their families from the threat of diabetes and obesity raging in their neighborhoods, while acquiring concrete skills in the hospitality industry.

The Kitchen is the only emergency food organization in NYC providing nutritionally balanced food for immune-compromised individuals struggling with diabetes, obesity, and malnutrition. The Kitchen serves community members struggling with varying degrees of poverty, ranging from working-poor to homeless. The Kitchen remains non-denominational so it can comfortably serve everyone regardless of sex, race, or religious beliefs. The Kitchen strives to help its clients move beyond emergency food provisions by teaching them how to make healthy and affordable choices for themselves and their families. Through this aspect of its service, The Kitchen takes a preventive approach to addressing the health crisis in the East Harlem community, therefore improving the health of clients in the community across lines of income and health.

The $25,000 Post Grant for Good Health will assist in funding the Junior Chef program and give kids in Harlem the chance to cultivate their culinary creativity!