"Cooking is both simpler and more necessary than we imagine. It has in recent years come to seem a complication to juggle against other complications, instead of what it can be - a clear path through them." - Tamar Adler An Everlasting Meal
Second Harvest is in one of the most agriculturally rich regions in the country. Bountiful crops of apples, wheat, potatoes, sweet corn, beans, lentils and much more, as well as dairies and ranches surround us. The generosity of local producers means we’re able to share much of this food with our hungry neighbors.
Second Harvest distributes more than 2 million pounds of food each month for hungry families in the Inland Northwest. About 80 percent of this food is fresh produce or other perishable products.
But providing groceries isn’t always enough when people don’t know how to prepare and use the food they receive. Many times over the years, we’ve heard people we serve say they aren’t sure how to cook things like fresh fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile, rates of obesity and diabetes are on the rise, especially for low-income families.
In The Kitchen, we’re giving people the tools to take their health into their own hands. We’re taking our mission to fight hunger a step further and investing in long-term health through nutrition education and hands-on cooking lessons.
The Kitchen empowers families to reduce or eliminate the foods that contribute to obesity and nutrition-related health conditions. Children and adults learn to make healthy yet economical food choices, helping them move out of poverty.
