Sally’s Community Kitchen cooking program creating food warriors in Sussex, NB

Two years ago, the Sussex Community Church recognized the need for a program to educate and empower members of its community to make better food choices, while living on a budget. From this idea, Sally’s Community Kitchen was born, and in the time that has followed, it has become a tremendous success.

“This program is well-received with about six to eight participants in each session,” says Major Judy Folkins, Corps Officer at Sussex Community Church.

Sally’s Community Kitchen is advertised to current clients of Sussex Community and Family Services, as well as through other organizations in the community.

“We deliberately targeted the young mothers in the community to help them learn how to best provide for their families and make those dollars stretch a little further,” Major Folkins adds.

The program runs twice a year, combining hands-on lessons with networking and fellowship to help clients boost their self-esteem, build connections and learn new skills. Participants learn to budget, shop smart, cook a variety of healthy foods, menu plan, use coupons and substitute ingredients.

“The participants are very supportive of one another, offering tips on great buys or places to go in the community,” says Major Folkins. “We often need to add additional sessions because the young women have so much to share with each other but also with us. It’s a great opportunity for all of us to learn together.”

At the conclusion of the program, each participant receives a certificate of completion. Sally’s Kitchen also serves as a springboard for further development in the food industry, as graduates are offered the opportunity to take their food safety courses, paid for by The Salvation Army.

The next Sally’s Community Kitchen session will begin on April 2, 2014. To learn more about the program, contact Sussex Community Family Services at 506-433-5461. They also offers a food bank Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 79 Main Street.