Spoons Across America has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to expand our programming in New York City this year. With this generous support, SAA programs will reach an additional 600 students this year through The Dinner Party Project and Take A Taste with Spoons programs.

 

Earlier this summer, SAA received a grant award from the Julia Child Foundation to expand Take a Taste with Spoons from a one day program to a three day program. 

 

Take a Taste with Spoons promotes the importance of fresh, local and seasonal food, explores the elements of taste, and encourages children to eat healthy, tasty foods. The Dinner Party Project engages children in the fun and excitement of planning, preparing and enjoying a meal with their parents and friends. Both programs educate children about the benefits of healthy eating.

 

SAA is currently accepting applications for volunteers to support fall programs. Read more about volunteer opportunities on our website. 

Are you passionate about food? Do you enjoy working with children? Consider volunteering with Spoons Across America! We are looking for volunteers for our Take a Taste with Spoons and Dinner Party Project programs. 

Don't have the time this fall but still looking to get involved? We have several programs launching this spring including our annual Agricultural Literacy Week. Click here to register.

Meet Annie Howell, our new Program Coordinator 

Welcome to Spoons Across America, Annie!

 

We're thrilled to introduce Annie Howell, the new Program Coordinator for Spoons Across America! Annie has worked in nonprofit programming and development for the past decade. She became interested in the local food movement several years ago while working as a Program/Volunteer Coordinator at a small community arts center in an under-served neighborhood in Cleveland. Among her accomplishments there was the establishment of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pick-up and free family art classes, which led to the community coming together in an urban market, sharing recipes and making food-inspired art. 

 

One of our goals at SAA is to encourage the creation of food memories. Here's one from Annie:

 

"Strawberry season always reminds me of waking up early on Saturday mornings as a child and picking strawberries in our garden. Offering my mom a slightly smashed handful of strawberries, she would make smoothies  (strawberries and blended ice) for me. I always thought it was such a treat! In that same garden, my dad and I would chew on basil leaves as we would weed. To this day, the smell or taste of fresh basil reminds me of tending that small backyard garden. Now that I have my own children, our Saturdays are centered around Farmers Markets, cooking, and sharing meals."

 

For Annie, food represents family, community and togetherness. She is looking forward to continuing the growth of nutritional and culinary education with Spoons Across America.    

Each Friday night, the chef instructors and students of Natural Gourmet Institute prepare an exquisite, seasonal, vegetarian three-course meal for the public as part of their Friday Night Dinner series. NGI is donating 10% of the proceeds from their October 10th dinner to Spoons Across America! Enjoy a great meal and support SAA. To view the menu and make a reservation, visit the Natural Gourmet Institute website.