The COLUMBIA COUNTY RECOVERY KITCHEN was founded on April 13, 2020 in response to the profound food insecurity spreading across our county in the wake of the pandemic.
NOW WE ARE 1 YEAR OLD!
What a year this has been for all of us.
It has been 365 days filled with fear of COVID, joy at the distances we have covered together, and appreciation of neighbors, family, friends and all the folks who do the good work of helping to feed those less fortunate than we are.
At the very start of the pandemic Carole Clark, who worked in the restaurant industry feeding people for ages, set about finding a new way to feed folks in need. And six weeks after lockdown began, Carole had RECOVERY KITCHEN up and running. The first week they served 200 free meals. All of this happened because of the vigorous, dedicated help of an army of volunteers and participating organizations.
Chef Jamie Parry from Swoon and John Carr, the chef from Le Perche, headed up the cooking. Two local churches (Christ Church Episcopal and First Presbyterian Church) offered a space to cook and a non-profit fiscal umbrella so that RECOVERY KITCHEN could raise funds. Pam Kline took the lead on finding drivers and recipients. Jamison Teale organized the meal distribution. Carol Peckham set up a GoFundMe account for start-up monies. The first food insecure households were referred from the Sanctuary Movement, Social Services, Head Start, Reach and county schools.
EVERYONE STEPPED UP.
In our first year, we have delivered more than 50,000 meals to families in need.
It was a lot of work. And it still is, but the rewards are enormous.
COVID has been a tough time for everyone, a long bad moment. Our kitchen, is called RECOVERY because that is our path back, and the way get there is through the kindness and generosity of others.
This birthday celebration is for everyone who has cooked, driven miles in snow delivering meals, sent a donation, or called to check on folks to make sure that all of us know we matter.
ALL OF US.
Because all of us are recovering together from a challenging year.
So Happy Birthday to the circle who helps in ways big and small.
Please donate today so we can continue to help our neighbors or sign-up to be a volunteer.