If you know me, you know how much I love being in the kitchen. The fact that I get to spend my days combining that passion with my work is truly the icing on the cake.

What makes it even more meaningful is that I get to play a small part in creating opportunities to bring others inside the kitchen, many of whom have been overlooked or not given permission to be in these spaces. At Culinary Connections, we believe that everyone belongs in the kitchen. We believe food is more than nourishment; it's a recipe for confidence, independence, health, wellness, and meaningful connection.

My team and I have poured our hearts into building this program. Every class, every recipe, and every student success story represents our dedication and a shared vision of making culinary education accessible to people of all abilities.

We are working hard to diversify our funding, develop new revenue streams, and build a sustainable model that will allow Culinary Connections to serve our communities for years to come. But while we put those pieces in place, we continue to rely on the generosity of supporters to help bridge the gap and keep our programs running.

Like everyone else, we've felt the impact of rising costs. Groceries are more expensive than ever, and so is maintaining the high-quality kitchen environment, ingredients, equipment, and instruction our students deserve. Every dollar donated helps ensure that students can continue gaining skills that extend far beyond the kitchen.

Here's something to consider: if just 15 people in your network gave $20, that would be $300. Multiply that by 15 networks, and together we'd raise $4,500 to support this effort!

Every gift matters. So this Giving Tuesday, consider skipping your favorite coffee, takeout lunch, or small treat and donating those dollars instead. A small sacrifice today can help provide someone else with opportunities, skills, confidence, and a lifetime of belonging in the kitchen.

Thank you for supporting a program that means so much to me and to the students and families we serve. ❤️