COOKING MATTERS AND SO DO VOLUNTEERS

Eating healthy on a budget can be a challenge. To help, we partner with local agencies and organizations to host Cooking Matters®, a Share Our Strength program that focuses on giving people the tools they need to be able to eat healthy even with limited funds. For six weeks, participants get hands-on advice from volunteers with experience in nutrition, cooking and food budgeting. During each class, volunteers help participants prepare healthy, budget-friendly recipes. At the end of each class, participants receive all the ingredients they need to create the same meal at home.

There are many opportunities to volunteer with Cooking Matters, including volunteering as a Spanish interpreter. This is a great opportunity to help ensure that Spanish-speaking Cooking Matters participants are able to understand and put what they learn into practice. To volunteer as a Spanish interpreter, please contact our Volunteer Services department.

Here are some other Cooking Matters volunteer opportunities:

• Culinary Instructors teach adults and families how to cook healthy, affordable meals. Volunteers can be professional chefs, culinary students, or experienced commercial or institutional cooks.
• Nutrition Instructors teach adults and families how to make healthy meal choices. Volunteers should either possess or be working toward a degree in dietetics or nutrition, or have three years of work-related experience.
• Course Managers ensure course materials are prepared for each class and provide support to volunteer team members and participants throughout the course. Any member of the community with managing or coordination skills and adequate transportation may serve in this role.
• Course Assistants help facilitate classes by assisting with onsite or offsite class preparation and implementation. Any member of the community with adequate transportation may serve in this role.
• Tour Leaders teach adults to shop healthy on a limited budget. This role is only available in Cooking Matters at the Store grocery store tours. Any member of the community with a passion for healthy living and experience with shopping on a budget may serve in this role.
• Photographers capture the “Cooking Matters story” of participants and volunteers in photographs, including images that demonstrate class members having fun, learning, eating, socializing and cooking. Any professional or aspiring photographer with experience operating a digital camera may serve in this role.

The first step to volunteering with Cooking Matters is going through Cooking Matters orientation. To register for an upcoming orientation, visit our Volunteer page. We look forward to seeing you at a future class!