With a mission of “providing access to healthy food for all by cooking and eating together,” Our Community Kitchen
has an innovative twist to an age-old idea of serving good food and
bringing people together. Our Community Kitchen is not your ordinary
church kitchen venue, nor is there the standard food fare menu of
scrambled eggs and cereal. With an emphasis on providing locally
sourced, healthy, home-made foods, Our Community Kitchen has a breakfast
menu that rivals that of an upscale bistro. Served every Tuesday and
Thursday from 7-10 am at the Ascension Episcopal Church in Stillwater,
the breakfast is donation supported. Those who can afford to give are
asked to give whatever amount they see fit; everyone in the community is
strongly urged to come have breakfast regardless of their financial
ability.
No
one is ever turned away and the crowd is growing- serving an average of
80 people per week. "I love the variety of foods and the ability to try
new foods I have never before experienced," said attendee, Barb
Christopherson. Preschoolers from the nearby Head Start program are
invited to come have breakfast each week, broadening their food-tasting
experiences which could help pave the way for healthier food choices far into
the future. The children are fed “family style” with plates of food set
in the middle of the table to encourage peer support as well as aid the
children with having more personal power and responsibility over what they choose to eat.
Nearly
one year old, the project was conceived with the idea of connecting
people and providing tasty and nutritious home-made food sourced from
local farms, gardens, and area grocers such as the River Market Co-op.
The Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment, in
partnership with the State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) provided
seed monies to help launch the pilot. “The SHIP initiative to reduce
obesity and increase access to fruits and vegetables was the driving
force behind support of Our Community Kitchen, " explained Pat
Galligher, Washington County Senior Community Health Specialist, MPH,
RD, LN. “We were immediately impressed with the dedicated volunteers and
the quality, high-nutrient dense food.”
Ann DeLaVergne founder of ecoEnvelopes,
who has recently refocused to work locally on community projects, won't
let funding issues slow down the momentum of this great initiative.
Armed with a knack for connecting community resources and an army of
dynamic volunteers, many of whom are self-proclaimed “foodies,”
DeLaVergne has secured additional funding from Bayport’s Hugh J.
Andersen Foundation and is plowing ahead.
Our
Community Kitchen volunteers plan for and prepare breakfast consisting
of steel-cut oats, french toast, quiche with spinach and sun-dried
tomatoes, homemade bread, and apple butter. The volunteers are likely to
be community leaders who are also part of the local food production
scene such as Jeffrey and Kristin Klemestrud, former chef-owners of Savories, Sara Hayden, baker and owner of Rustic Pies of Stillwater, or Sara Morrison (pictured left), owner of The Backyard Grocery, which provides garden design services as well as fresh herbs and vegetables. “I
believe access to healthy food is a right that all people should enjoy
and that eating good food with friends, old and new, is a great way to
create community, “ said Morrison. Other volunteers include area-school
students, and staff from Canvas Health and State Farm Insurance.
Our
Community Kitchen has taken seed and now many other positive outcomes
are taking root. A group of Lake Elmo teens began the Cimarron Youth
Garden project and the Kitchen purchases vegetables from them which are
then used in the community meals. The breakfast has also become a
central point to discuss all things food. “We support economic
development through projects in and around the kitchen like Harmony
Learning Center Garden and the Landfall Gardens. We also look at how to
support micro businesses around food and cooking related products,”
remarked DeLaVergne. Growers and food artisans are able to connect and
benefit, which in turn is strengthening the physical, mental, spiritual,
and financial health of the Washington County community.
Ready
to enjoy a good meal consisting of wholesome and local ingredients
while connecting with other like-minded people? Breakfast available
every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-10 am at Ascension Episcopal Church, 214 North Third
Street, Stillwater.
Interested
in volunteering in this healthy food, healthy community movement?
Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks such as: helping pick up and
sort produce, meal planning, and food preparation. Donations are also
welcome- contact volunteer coordinator, Diane Rollie at 651-428-0300 or
community organizer, Ann DeLaVergne 651-329-0125 for more details.
Leigh Ann Ahmad was dragged kicking and screaming to the Cities by her husband; having been born and bred in Cleveland, Ohio, she just could not fathom how colder could be better. Now, five years and two kids later, she cannot imagine a better place to play and thrive. She’s a reformed carb-aholic, wannabe writer, social justice advocate, book-club geek, veggie grower and local foods connoisseur. Her last article for SGT was, Discovering my roots.
