Dear Friend,
Is it hot in here or is it just us? It’s time to Turnip the Heat! Every year, in November and December, we ask our donors and supporters to Turnip the Heat and contribute to our giving campaign. Let’s close out 2024 with a spicy sizzle! Your contribution, big or small, goes directly to helping us to educate kids, families, and their communities about local food systems.
Our edible education programs provide opportunities for kids to connect to nourishing food, feel dignity, delight, and belonging in their interactions with food, and to learn to grow and cook food like their chef mentors.
We know our programs change kids’ lives for the better. Kids with access to nourishing food and food education show better overall health, confidence, social connection, and academic success. In a nutshell: your gifts help kids access vital food literacy.
There’s more! Not only will your contributions help more kids access our programs, your donations will be matched up to $5,000 by our generous donor, Virginia Angus. Plus you’ll be entered to win peppery weekly prize draws! Hot sauce! Knives! Spicy recipes! And more.
Read on for heartwarming quotes about the powerful impact of our LunchLAB and Classroom Program on local kids, educators and families. And don’t be shy to spice things up and make a zesty donation today.
“It’s a very fun thing to do, especially when you’re with someone that you enjoy cooking with or that you’ve cooked with before. I think it’s a very homey and very nice way to bond with your friends or with your peers.
My favourite part of LunchLAB is sitting with my friends or classmates and just enjoying and savouring the food and talking about our days, even though some of us are in different classes.
People should donate to Growing Chefs and the LunchLAB program so that they can cook more fantastic and flavourful meals. Cooking in LunchLAB gave me a very happy and good environment to go to. ”
- Tia
Grade 7 Student Chef at LunchLAB
“LunchLAB is giving students a memory of what freshly prepared food tastes like, this is what I love about it - even if they don’t realize it right now, this will serve them throughout their whole life.”
-Deena Buckley
Principal at Norquay Elementary School
“Cooking and eating at LunchLAB is a special experience. There's a sense of excitement and pride as everyone comes together to prepare a nutritious meal. There's a shared sense of accomplishment and joy in the kitchen that extends to everyone involved.”
-Ebru Erdogan Varol
Parent of a LunchLAB Eater, LunchLAB Sous Chef
“Almost all of our students tried and loved the salad. Some don’t have access to this type of food at home so it was great to see them excited to try new veggies!"
-Teacher Participating in the Classroom Program
“Wren is unsure of most things, but she’s tried everything that the chefs have offered her. Last week, after finishing her salad, she licked her plate clean and said ‘Look! You don’t even have to wash my plate!”
-Teacher Participating in the Classroom Program
“The class loved making and tasting the Rainbow Stir Fry! They still talk about using a bear claw and not a duck bill to cut safely, and are so proud that they are teaching their families how to use safe knife skills at home.”
-Teacher Participating in the Classroom Program
All donations received or postmarked through December 31st, 2024 contribute to our $15,000 Turnip the Heat campaign goal (and donors will receive a 2024 charitable tax receipt).
To Donate
-Donate online through CanadaHelps
-Donations via e-transfer can be sent to accounts@growingchefs.ca.
-To donate by cheque please reach out to Afton Bell at 778-791-0789 or afton@growingchefs.ca.