Local Youngsters learn valuable lessons by cooking and serving a delicious, healthy meal

Stop & Shop and Garden State Community Kitchen prepare food for a special brunch served for Senior Citizens and the local community (L-R, Jared Mariche (North Brunswick), Arlene Putterman (Stop & Shop Manager of Public and Community Relations), Allison O’Brien (Executive Director, Garden State Community Kitchen)

Youngsters from the Garden State Community Kitchen, a program offering farm-to-table educational instruction for children and families in New Jersey cooked and served a special brunch with product donated by Stop & Shop for senior citizens and members of the local community.

The youngsters, who have spent the summer at the Community Kitchen learning about healthy cooking and eating, put their practice to test whipping up a nutritious meal that included; vegetable quiche, pulled chicken potato hash, Israeli salad and wilted greens.

“We are glad to be able to support the Garden State Community Kitchen and their mission to educate New Jersey’s youth on forming healthier eating habits,” says Arlene Putterman, Stop & Shop’s Manager of Public & Community Relations for Stop & Shop’s New York Metro Division. “Being able to teach today’s youth the importance of healthy eating through hands-on experience are lessons that will last a lifetime for these youngsters.”

“We are very fortunate to have a partner like Stop & Shop who understands the importance of working with their community to achieve a common goal,” said Allison O’Brien, Executive Director, Garden State Community Kitchen. “The fact that Stop & Shop shares our mission of educating the public to healthy cooking and eating is invaluable.”

Jonathan Garcia, 14 of the Bronx on why he enjoys the program: “All of the activities we do here are awesome and it feels great to serve the community food that we cooked ourselves. Being here is having a fun summer.”