Construct Lowell Area Youth (CLAY) has completed a six-week culinary program teaching teens kitchen basics and helped provide meals to local cancer patients. CLAY has set out to help local high school aged students, with a focus on those who are considered high risk, learn life skills. CLAY Board President Bob Rogers worked with Unity High and Lowell High School to line up students, met with area businesses to find culinary volunteers, and with Gilda’s Club of Lowell to find individuals and families who would receive meals.
A Master in the Kitchen
Throughout the program, students and volunteers would gather each Monday to prepare meals. Preparation, cooking, cooling, and packaging could take anywhere from a few hours to most of an eight-hour day depending on the menu and number of people receiving meals. The number of hands in the kitchen also played a role. Some weeks just one or two students participated, while other weeks that number would double. In total, nine students participated throughout the program, logging a total of 57.5 hours.
First Congregational Church donated their professional kitchen space each week. The kitchen is used each Thursday for Open Table, which provides a free meal to anyone in the community who would like to participate.
Each week an experienced chef would also be present to guide and assist student. Other adult volunteers also helped in the kitchen where needed. Early on, menus consisted of healthy meals found online. As the weeks progressed, requests were taken and fulfilled when possible by those receiving meals based on what they liked and could tolerate eating.
The week we stopped by to watch some meal preparation, Jim Stoutjesdyk, Jr., Executive Chef at Flat River Grill and Mackenzie McKinney, a Certified Raw Chef and CLAY board member, provided leadership in the kitchen. Stoutjesdyk donated his time for two weeks while McKinney offered guidance all six weeks. Other volunteers such as Jim Petrovich, also a CLAY board member, were involved throughout the entire program.
The Menu
Gazpacho, a chicken based mineral broth, stuffed mushrooms, and zucchini noodles were among the dishes being made during our visit. Four students were present, learning how to prepare the menu items. “I have no experience cooking and nothing going on.” said Carlotte Heftye, one of the student participants. “It was a bonus that meals were going to cancer patients.” she added as a reason for her involvement.
Fresh, local ingredients were used whenever possible. If items needed to be purchased, organic products were the first choice. Students would chop, zest, peel, and measure seasonings. They also learned how to clean cutting boards and utensils, making sure not to cross contaminate ingredients. Under the direction of the chefs, dishes were prepared in an order in which final packaging for delivery could be completed at the same time.
Amy, who had colon cancer diagnosed in January 2017, was a recipient of the meals made by students. She is currently cancer free, however six months of aggressive treatment has left her with nerve damage in her hands and feet. This makes meal preparation, among other things, difficult. Also, living alone, it’s not easy to come up with small meals to eat which are healthy. “My favorite has been the gazpacho… I could have never chopped up veggies myself to make it. But I’ve like the pasta dishes and fresh juices and salads. It’s been a great help.” says Amy about receiving meals each week. She was one of three families and a total of nine people who received meals.
Culinary Programs in the Future
It’s not clear what the future holds for the CLAY culinary program. The ideal is to be able to offer the cooking experience and meals for cancer patients all year. But funding and volunteers with culinary experience are both needed. There has been some talk amongst CLAY board members of starting cooking classes for adults. For a fee, individuals and groups would be able to learn how to cook various meals over the course of a single or multi class session, which would help fund a program for teens to learn culinary skills by making meals for cancer patients.
While the future is not clear, the six-week experience was a positive one for everyone involved. If you are interested in helping CLAY with their culinary program or would like to learn more about CLAY’s efforts in the community, visit their website and find them on Facebook.
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