There were plenty of cooks in the kitchen at Our Kids Count Wednesday morning.
The community organization welcomed a full room of more than 50 local officials and well wishers as it celebrated the grand opening of the new Our Kids Count building at 704 McKenzie Street. After more than two years of work, the group has a new home complete with a brand new community kitchen.
It’s also been able to raise close to $500,000 in in kind and cash donations to make the new space happen.
“It’s going to be a space where families can come together and cook food and learn food preparation cooking skills how to bring added value to the food that they have every day,” executive director Gladys Berringer said.
The space will also be used to house other Our Kids Count programs like the young parents’ supper.
It even features a brand new play room so children can play while their parents learn.
The building actually opened at the end of February with its first program featuring 24 seven to 12 years olds learning about healthy eating and cooking during the March Break. Berringer said she and the staff were so excited a couple of weeks ago when a child from the program told them she was cooking her family vegetarian chili, something she learned in the community kitchen.
“It’s really encouraging. The children obviously valued what they learned and now they’re taking it home and they’re sharing it with their families so that’s what this is about,” Berringer said.
For more information visit www.ourkidscount.ca
