Local residents who rely on the Food Bank of the Albemarle to support their families will soon have access to the agency’s planned demonstration kitchen.
The food bank is using a nearly $ 19,000 grant from the Elizabeth City Foundation to build a demonstration kitchen that officials hope will benefit residents across 15 counties across the agency’s service area.
The main use of the kitchen is to demonstrate cooking techniques and teach healthy recipes that include local products and foods that the people on the board receive, according to Brian Gray, the chalkboard’s communications director.
“Demonstrations will be held by local chefs and nutritionists to promote healthy eating habits and the best possible use of available food,” said Gray. “The demo sessions are also recorded (and) streamed live for viewing.”
Della Hicks, educator of the advanced nutrition and nutrition education program at the Pasquotank Center of NC Cooperative Extension, will be giving the cooking demonstrations using groceries from the grocery bank, Gray said.
Earlier this month, the Elizabeth City Foundation made a $ 18,815 grant to the food bank to help build the kitchen. The food bank award was part of a total of $ 165,000 in grants the foundation made to 15 nonprofits in the area.
Gray said the board will use its money to buy commercial-grade kitchen utensils, including a stove, microwave, refrigerator, and oven.
“The kitchen will include restaurant-grade appliances and cookware, including a gas range and oven, full-size refrigerators, and a microwave,” said Gray.
The kitchen is located in the Food Bank of the Albemarle at 109 Tidewater Way on Weeksville Road in Elizabeth City. The kitchen will be included in the second expansion stage of the table, which is to begin at the beginning of next year. When completed, the kitchen will include theater-style seating for up to 30 people, Gray said.
Once the kitchen is operational, a schedule for the planned demonstrations will be published on the blackboard’s website www.afoodbank.org in mid-2022. The study sessions are also recorded and are available online on the Tafel’s YouTube channel. said gray.
Gray said the best contribution residents can make to the table is money. Because every dollar received corresponds to about four meals for hungry residents. Companies and organizations interested in hosting food promotions should contact Peyton Scot at pscott@afoodbank.org. To host a virtual food drive, contact Gray at brgray@afoodbank.org.