Introducing Share Our Strength’s COOKING MATTERS
Posted by Cathy Berg on Saturday, October 16, 2010
Today, Share Our Strength unveiled a new name for our signature educational program: Cooking Matters™ (formerly Operation Frontline®) to over 100 volunteers, staff, and stakeholders from across the country at our annual Conference of Leaders.
Since 1993, thousands of culinary and nutrition volunteers have been helping families take matters into their own hands in the kitchen by teaching them how to plan, purchase, and prepare healthy and affordable meals. As Cooking Matters, we’re excited to have a name that conveys the passion of those whose efforts have allowed the program to grow to serve more than 10,000 families each year.
We spoke with multiple stakeholders in deciding on a new name: volunteers, participants, partners, and sponsors – and all indicated a common belief that teaching basic cooking skills is at the heart of what we do and that the act of cooking can bring families together. For those struggling to feed their families on a low income, cooking skills do matter.
We’re grateful to our national sponsor, the ConAgra Foods® Foundation – and our new national retail sponsor, the Walmart Foundation – whose generous support has allowed Cooking Matters to expand to include 26 programs nationwide (and growing!). As the leader in healthy, affordable cooking, Cooking Matters hopes to inspire even more volunteers and supporters to engage in our work and help us reach thousands more families around the country.
To celebrate our new name, we’ve invited a handful of our supporters to answer the question, “Why does cooking matter?”
Janet McLaughlin – Director, Cooking Matters – Share Our Strength
“Everyone deserves food that is healthy, delicious, and affordable. For families at risk of hunger, it’s not just about having enough food – it’s about making the most of what you’ve got. Cooking matters because it can make healthy, fulfilling meals a reality for all families.”
W. DeWayne Wells – President, Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern MI
“Cooking matters because food nourishes the individual and builds strong families and communities.”
Mary Kay Gehring – Retired Chef; Cooking Matters Hall of Fame Volunteer
“Cooking matters because it gives you control over your family’s nutrition, allowing you to better manage your food dollars, teach your kids about healthy food choices, and tap into your creativity in the kitchen.”
Andrew Nowak– Project Director, Slow Food Denver; Cooking Matters Hall of Fame Volunteer; and Chairman of the Board of Advisors, Cooking Matters Colorado
“The single, most important thing we can do as a society to reverse the obesity trend is to return to the kitchen as a family. Our grandparents knew that cooking matters when it came to preparing healthy meals for the family. It is very important that we show our children how to cook so that they have the confidence to make good choices.”
Elizabeth Vukovic Gartlan, MS, RD – Manager, Cooking Matters – Food Bank of South Jersey
“Cooking matters because it is through cooking that we nourish ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually. It is through cooking that we provide our bodies with the nutrients they need, and it is through cooking that we share our love for our families and friends. In short, cooking matters!”
October 16, 2010 | 6 comment(s) | Tags: Cooking Matters, event, no kid hungry, Operation Frontline
Comments
6 reader comments so far.
Cooking Matters: Cooking is a way to encourage youth to tap into their creative selves; actively listen and converse with their peers and adults; make connections with their families; positively learn nutrition, budgeting and planning; as well as enhancing kitchen management, reading, math and life skills.
Posted by Darryl Bullock on October 18, 2010
Thanks for good stuff
Posted by livelybrowsers on October 19, 2010
Good article
Posted by seanlopez on October 20, 2010
Hurray! This is a much better name for a program that instills the importance of cooking (instead of relying on fast food) to our nation's families! I know we are fighting a "war" on hunger, but this name is much more suitable than its predecessor!
Posted by Michelle (What's Cooking) on October 20, 2010
As someone with a young son, it has become clear the need for programs like this. The fast food epidemic is a problem and needs to be dealt with! What is a good way to get involved with a program like this on a City/County level?
Landon
Posted by Landon on February 17, 2011
Landon - Thanks for your support. We'd love to get concerned parents like you involved with Cooking Matters! Our "Where We Are" web page (http://cookingmatters.org/where-we-work/where-we-are/) lists all the regions where our program operates, and our Volunteer page (http://cookingmatters.org/get-involved/volunteer/) offers lots of ideas for how to get involved. You can also help spread the word by becoming a "fan" on Facebook or following us on Twitter - see CookingMatters.org for those links. Thanks again!
Posted by Cathy Berg on February 17, 2011
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