Community Kitchen Academy - BIG IMPACTS on Individuals and Communities

COMMUNITY KITCHEN ACADMEY (CKA) is a program of the Vermont Foodbank that is operated in partnership with Chittenden Emergency Foodshelf and Capstone Community Action.

For years we have known that the program has had a huge impact on people’s lives in terms of JOB PLACEMENT, JOB RETENTION AND HIGHER EDUCATION.

The program has helped create opportunities for 170 graduates since 2009 and has provided over 300,000 nutritious meal servings to Vermonters at risk of hunger.  

For many, the program has transformed their lives.

 This evaluation started with the premise that many things predict someone’s likelihood to be successful in life.

• We measured BIG LIFE IMPROVEMENTS such as confidence, mental health, drug and alcohol use and interest in higher education.
• We looked at 8 LIFE SKILLS such as communication, problem solving, leadership, team work, conflict resolution and financial literacy.
• We asked if CKA INCREASED STABILTY for students and helped to remove barriers to employment such as transportation, childcare and housing.
• And we studied the impact on a student’s DIETARY and NUTRITIONAL BEHAVIORS such as fruit and vegetable and soda consumption using a validated research tool used nationwide by community based nutrition education programs.

It is my hope that these evaluations will provide the data and numbers to back-up the story we have known to be true in our hearts. CKA has had a HUGE IMPACT on the individual, family and community.  

Please share widely and help us spread the word about this fantastic program. We are graduating 6 classes a year and always have students looking for employment in the food industry.

Michelle

Michelle Wallace | mwallace@vtfoodbank.org

Vermont Foodbank Program Director

33 Parker Rd; Barre VT 05641

office: 802.477.4125 | cell: 802.498.7833