Loving Spoonful
Elizabeth Cohoe, Tibratā Gillies | Elizabeth Cohoe, Tibratā Gillies, Martin Thomas |
Grant Amount: $2,250
The Organization
Loving Spoonful connects people with good food across Kingston & Area. Working toward a healthier, more connected community, Loving Spoonful provides programs and champions policies affecting food security, poverty, social inclusion, and community health. The Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston has provided grants in the past for production of a "Where to Find Good Food in Kingston & Area" brochure, supplies for the GROW project that supports community gardens and gardening education in schools, and supplies for fresh food delivery. Volunteers also help with food delivery.
One of Loving Spoonful's many programs is the Open Kitchens program, which serves people with low incomes and/or experiencing poverty, particularly in the Rideau Heights neighbourhood. Recruitment for participants and the program itself happens there. People attending learn new healthy food skills, meet others, make connections and friendships, and try and enjoy new healthy foods. Weekly community kitchens workshops are hosted by Loving Spoonful's Community Kitchens Coordinator, professional chef Tibratā Gillies, with leadership encouraged from participants. New recipes are shared, new skills learned, and healthy meals are made to share and to take home to eat with families.