Mustard Seed Community Kitchen

Sister Gwen, the coordinator of the Mustard Seed community kitchen, has been involved with community kitchens in Toronto for over ten years. She has been involved with a wide range of community kitchens; from kitchens for individuals who are at risk of homelessness to kitchens for those are looking to cook a gourmet meal while meeting new people. The Mustard Seed currently offers community kitchens in eight-week blocks.

Target

The Mustard Seed community kitchen is open to low income individuals who are at risk of becoming homeless. Many of the participants have mental health issues.

Goals

The Mustard Seed aims to provide a comfortable environment conducive for socialization and the development of social support networks. The environment allows participants to learn and share skills around cooking and healthy eating.

Location

The Mustard Seed recently moved to a beautiful brand new location. The kitchen is centrally located in the new building and the open concept allows for the sights and lovely cooking smells to travel throughout the building. There are many windows in that kitchen that allow the natural light to shine though onto the community kitchen members. The kitchen provides the perfect environment for cooking and socializing. The dining area is just off the kitchen and close by is a comfortable sitting area where members can rest and socialize during the program. In the preparation area a table and chairs are available allowing members to rest their legs while peeling vegetables and completing other tasks for preparing the meal.

Operation of the kitchen

Before joining the community kitchen, potential members go through an intake process where they are provided with information about how the community kitchen runs. They also have the opportunity to say what they would like to get out of participating in the community kitchen. During the initial meeting potential members are asked to fill out a form listing the goals they would like to achieve by the end of the community kitchen session. The forms are kept and the group will meet after eight weeks and will re-evaluate the goals. An environment conducive to open and honest discussion is encouraged to help in ensuring the process is as useful as possible.

The Mustard Seed community kitchen is open every Tuesday and members arrive at 3pm, dinner is usually ready by 5pm. Participants pay a fee to cover the cost of food (about $3). Sister Gwen, the program Coordinator, is assisted by two facilitators. Each day the tasks the must be completed to make the meal are written on the chalkboard that is located in the cooking area. Sister Gwen and the facilitators help in ensuring everyone has a task that they feel comfortable doing. During the community kitchen session the group decides, with some help from the facilitators, what will be on the menu for next week. The focus of the kitchen is healthy eating on a budget; many of the menu items are vegetarian.

Sister Gwen and the facilitators provide encouragement and support throughout the session. They also share cooking advice and information about food safety as necessary.

Benefits

The Mustard Seed community kitchen provides good healthy food on a budget. It allows participants to develop skills in food preparation, food safety and group dynamics. The Mustard Seed provides a very supportive environment that allows individuals to gain self-esteem and develop social support networks.

FURTHER QUESTIONS