San Diego Nonprofit Making an Impact
In this season of giving thanks and supporting others, consider the good work of local nonprofit Kitchens for Good, making a year-round impact in the San Diego community. Discover what you can do to support their efforts or get involved.
Kitchens for Good (KFG) is dedicated to making a positive impact in San Diego County through food and culinary arts training. In the past eight years, their Culinary Apprenticeship Program has enabled over 800 local San Diegans to gain job skills in order to build better futures for themselves and their families.
KFG’s apprenticeship program provides enrolled students tuition-free classroom and on-the-job training, career coaching and access to job placement services. The goal is to break the cycle of poverty by helping students gain necessary skills in the culinary arts. Students make the decision to invest in themselves, many re-entering the workforce after various life challenges, substance use or years in foster care. Regardless of circumstances, apprentices are committed to transforming their lives.
KFG relies on local community support to be successful. “Showing support by donating, shopping our resale store, purchasing cooking class experiences, and spreading the word [to others] are the best ways to help,” says Rachel Taylor, content and strategy manager at Kitchens for Good.
KFG hosts cooking classes at the Door of Hope kitchen in Linda Vista. They run all kinds of classes for the holiday season, from casual date nights to corporate and team building events. The classes make great gifts and are an excellent way to support KFG. If you’re looking for more gift ideas, KFG also has holiday-themed sales through their resale shop, where you can purchase unique, gently used kitchenware, vintage items and specialty goods for yourself or loved ones.
Volunteers can work at the Kitchens for Good Shop in Pacific Beach, serve food alongside KFG staff at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park or work at an apprentice-run café. Volunteer individually or with a group (ages 14 and up; under 18 need an accompanying adult). All volunteer work, donations and purchases directly support San Diegans working in the apprenticeship programs.
Learn more or shop online at www.kitchensforgood.org and follow @kitchensforgood on social media.
Amanda Cavallari is a lifestyle writer residing in San Diego.
