Welcome to the Beech Street Community Kitchen webpage.  This is a new venture being undertaken by parishioners at the church of Christ the King (Sudbury).  Inspired by the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary (Alberta) the Beech Street Community Kitchen is an outreach program aimed at helping others to socialize, learn some basics about good nutrition, and have lots of fun.

• What is a Community Kitchen?
• Who can participate in the Beech Street Community Kitchen project?
• How do I register?
• How can I help?
• Community partners
• Sponsors
• Contact us

What is a Community Kitchen?

The concept of Community Kitchens is not new.  At a Community Kitchen, a group of four or more people meet and plan nutritious meals based on 'specials' advertised in major food store flyers.  On specified cooking days, participants arrive at the Beech Street Kitchen at 10:00 am and by 2:00 pm, all cooking is complete.

With the help of Community Food Advisors and experienced parishioners, participants learn the basics of healthy and inexpensive choices for food, recipes and cooking techniques.  In addition, adults get the chance to network with other adults who particpate in the program while their young children are cared for by licenced child care workers.

In late 2002, Health Canada identified nine social determinants of health including food insecurity defined as "the inability to acquire or consume an adequate diet quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty that one will be able to do so" (Davis and Tarasuk, 1994).

• The Foodshed Project
  Food Security News for Sudbury-Manitoulin

The Community Food Security Indicators Report Card for the City of Greater Sudbury 2005, reported that 11% of families were categorized as "low income", that is their earnings are less than $30,000.  According to the 2004 Children First Report Card, 62% of lone parent families are categorized as "low income" families.  The same report indicated that of these families one third had earnings of less than $15,000.  One in every five children under six years of age live in poverty in the City of Greater Sudbury.

The 2007 Nutritious Food Basket Report (SDHU) demonstrated that to feed a family of four would cost $130.89 per week.  A family of four receiving Ontario Works needs to spend about 33% of its income on food.  When rental costs, basic utilities, and transportation are factored in against monthly income, most "low income" families would be left in a deficit situation.

In the City of Greater Sudbury 3% of households use food banks.  Of these 25% were single parent families and 30% were two parent families. (2004 Children First Report Card).

Community Food Security exists when all community residents obtain a safe, personally acceptable, nutritious diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes healthy choices, community self-reliance, and equal access for everyone (Position of Dietitians of Canada, 2007).  This community kitchen, by reaching out to families in need, will foster community development in food self-reliance and increase the quality of life for children by improving access to nutritious food.

Who can participate?

The Beech Street Community Kitchen works with families (low income or lone parent), typically with young children ( 0 - 6 years old) to plan, purchase for and prepare nutritious well balanced meals.  Daycare is provided for children of Community Kitchen participants.

How do I register?

If you would like to participate in the Beech Street Community Kitchen project, or if you know of someone who can benefit from this program, please contact us by email or by phone at (705) 674-6447.

How can I help?

Many hands make light work.  If you would like to help with the organization of meals, working in the kitchens, providing transportation for participants, assisting with communications or in some other way, please contact us by email or call the parish office at (705) 674-6447.

Community Partners

Community Ktichens are not new to the Sudbury area.  In preparing the Beech Street Kitchen, we are indebted to the following organizations who have generously shared their expertise with us: Jubilee Heritage Family Resources, Better Beginnings, Better Futures and Our Children, Our Future.  The partnerships we have created with these organizations have been indispensible in helping us to get started.  We look forward to working with you.

Sponsors

A project of this scope is made possible only with the dedication and work of many individuals and organizations.  The Beech Street Community Kitchen is primarily an outreach program which invites parishioners of the church of Christ the King to provide this service to the people of Greater Sudbury.

Thank you to our community sponsors:

• United Way/Centraide (Sudbury and/et District)
• Sudbury FOCUS Community Project
• The Ontario Trillium Foundation

Everyone wins with this combination: 

• people who are hungry get to take home a meal to be shared with their families;
• parishioners and others who are involved in this project take an active part in feeding the hungry among us;
• community partners and sponsors work together to make Sudbury a better place to live.

Contact us

We welcome your comments about how to make this project better and better.  Please contact us at

The Beech Street Community Kitchen
21 Ste-Anne Road, Box 787
Sudbury, ON   P3E 4S1
Telephone: (705) 674-6447
Facsimile: (705) 674-2921
Email:  christtheking@diocesessm.org