CulinaryCorps facts for kids
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| Founded | 2006 |
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| Founder | Christine Carroll (Founder) |
| Type | Public charity |
| Focus | Service Organization for Culinary Professionals |
| Location | |
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Key people
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Christine Carroll - Founding Director Viviana Acosta-Padial - Program Coordinator |
| Website | culinarycorps.org |
CulinaryCorps is an American non-profit organization. It brings together students and professionals who love to cook. These volunteers use their cooking skills to help communities across the United States.
Contents
CulinaryCorps: Helping Communities Through Food
CulinaryCorps is all about using food to make a positive difference. It's a special group that helps people in need. They do this by sending skilled cooks and chefs to communities.
How CulinaryCorps Started
CulinaryCorps was founded by Christine Carroll in 2006. The idea came to her after she volunteered in New Orleans. This was after Hurricane Katrina, a very big storm. Christine was helping to repaint a school. She realized that cooks could help in a unique way. They could use their food skills to support communities.
When she returned home, she started CulinaryCorps. Her goal was to let cooks volunteer their special talents. This helps communities that need support.
Christine Carroll even created a new word: "culanthropy." It mixes "culinary" (which means cooking) with "philanthropy" (which means helping others). It describes how CulinaryCorps uses food to do good.
What CulinaryCorps Volunteers Do
CulinaryCorps finds students and professionals from the cooking world. These volunteers go on week-long trips. They travel to different communities in the United States.
The main goal is to make a lasting impact. They want to help the community they visit. At the same time, they inspire volunteers. They hope volunteers will keep helping others through food and cooking. CulinaryCorps members have volunteered in places like New Orleans, Louisiana. They have also helped along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Another place they visited is Puerto Rico.
Making a Difference: CulinaryCorps' Impact
In its first 16 months, CulinaryCorps organized five volunteer trips. During these trips, 76 volunteer cooks prepared over 3,500 meals. Since then, they have done more trips. They have returned to New Orleans, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Puerto Rico. Each volunteer trip usually lasts about one week.
On each trip, the CulinaryCorps team works with local groups. They do food-related projects that benefit the community. For example, in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they partnered with many organizations:
Cooking for Rebuilders: Habitat for Humanity
CulinaryCorps chefs cooked for hundreds of volunteers. These volunteers were rebuilding homes with Habitat for Humanity. This was after Hurricane Katrina.
Teaching Kids About Food: Edible Schoolyard
At the Samuel J. Green Charter School in New Orleans, they helped the Edible Schoolyard. CulinaryCorps volunteers taught students about food, cooking, and healthy eating.
Mentoring Future Chefs: Café Reconcile
At Café Reconcile in New Orleans, volunteers cooked meals. They also mentored culinary students. This means they gave advice about careers in cooking.
After-School Cooking Fun: Real Food Gulf Coast
CulinaryCorps worked with Real Food Gulf Coast. Together, they created a cooking club for kids. This club was for children in the Ocean Springs, Mississippi School District.
Supporting Young Talent: Liberty's Kitchen
They also helped Liberty's Kitchen. This program trains at-risk teens for cooking jobs. CulinaryCorps volunteers cooked for their opening celebration.
