Building Community

Food Programming at Our Kids Count

“I love being able to talk with other moms facing the same challenges as me, all while cooking a healthy meal for our family.”

On the second Saturday morning of every month, the red brick building at 704 McKenzie Street is buzzing with energy. Volunteers chatter and catch up with one another, fruit is scrubbed clean, and the scent of a delicious, hearty breakfast fills the space. At 9:30 am sharp, the doors will open, and breakfast will be served to over a hundred community members, completely free of charge.

In a city of over 100,000 people, this may seem like a small feat, but don’t be fooled. The free community breakfast is just one of the many ways that Our Kids Count, a local organization with a focus on community development, is using food to accomplish its mission of bringing people together.

Families all over the city benefit from the programs at Our Kids Count, whose programs range from introductory cooking classes for children and community kitchens for adults to comprehensive workshops on cake decorating. But regardless of the program, the impact remains the same: Our Kids Count is building community.

Jocelyn Kloosterhuis, nutrition manager at Our Kids Count, is passionate about sharing the importance of community food programming. “A community kitchen is about more than just the food,” she says. “It’s about the people who gather at the counter. It’s amazing to see how much a community kitchen can strengthen the bonds of a community, as well as giving everybody an opportunity to share their story, skills, and culture. We can all learn from each other while working toward a common goal of a healthy meal to bring home.”

The sentiment is echoed among participants, who credit programs like the pre and postnatal community kitchen as a saving grace during trying times. “Our Kids Count has done an amazing job keeping me connected and engaged,” Tanis Ylimaki, a participant, says. “I love being able to talk with other moms facing the same challenges as me, all while cooking a healthy meal for our family.”

At its heart, Our Kids Count belongs to the community. Everyone is welcome, regardless of income, age, or identity. By participating in a program, participants will be sure to go home with a healthy, delicious meal—but that’s not all. They might even find themselves a community to call your own.

For more information, visit ourkidscount.ca/programs.