This past year, we were fortunate to forge a collaboration with Columbia Metro Rotary. With their mission focused on youth, education and the environment, they adopted our YouthBuild program without hesitation. It was a perfect fit. Job Point already had a gardening program for our students to plant, tend and harvest vegetables and fruit. Rotary members expanded the experience by providing cooking connections classes for our YouthBuild students, many of whom had no prior experience in cooking from scratch, but learned they really liked the experience. These young students found great satisfaction in eating a meal they cooked themselves, and in seeing others enjoy a meal they prepared.
Rotarians also generously provided each student with a crock pot, cooking supplies and groceries, so they could continue to hone their culinary skills at home. The partnership has expanded by Metro Rotary also funding a project for Job Point students to learn more about careers in growing, a class on cooking specifically with vegetables, and an opportunity to give back to the community by building grow stations for preschool students in the CPS Title 1 program. These youngsters also learned about gardening, which as we all know leads to food on the table, and brings the love for gardening to another generation.
We are most grateful for The Columbia Metro Rotary and all you have done for our students this past year.
