Teen Kitchen Project Fundraiser
Virtual Celebration Takes Place Oct. 18
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By Angela Farley
istorically, Teen Kitchen Project and our supporters gather together to celebrate accomplishments of the year. This year, we will again celebrate together — virtually! TKP will share our impact, which has been especially vital during this time of pandemic and health crisis, and illustrate areas where you, our friends and supporters, are invited to be a part of continuing to build healthier communities through food. Since the start of the pandemic in March, Teen Kitchen Project has been
“Be The Difference” from page 19 Their current collaborations extend to 20+ organizations to provide additional interventions, classes, activities and volunteer opportunities. University of California, Santa Cruz Molecular Diagnostic Lab his team of scientists, lab technicians and researchers used their expertise to develop processes, procedures, and administration protocol for local COVID-19 testing.
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on the front lines, providing meals to those who cannot shop or cook meals, due to illness. Over the past six months, the need for meal service has continued to grow, and, thanks to the generous support of our community, we have not had to turn anyone away. However, we need you to help TKP to meet the continued demand for free, nutritious, delicious meals for individuals and their families dealing with life-threatening illness during this especially challenging time. Join us on Sunday, Oct. 18, for our Virtual Gathering, “Far Apart but Close at Heart.” Learn about Teen Kitchen Project’s latest activities, hear first-hand stories from our clients and volunteers, and donate to help those in our community who need it most. The fundraising goal is $100,000. If you donate $128 or more, and live in Santa Cruz County, you will receive a brunch box. The brunch box, made by our own teen chefs with guidance from Santa Cruz’s own Stephany Buswell, of The Food Network fame, will include a vegetarian seasonal frittata, homemade cinnamon rolls, berries, orange juice, champagne and 2 Verve Coffee drip kits. If you’re not able to attend, we will be sorry to miss you. However, you can still participate through making a donation or becoming an event sponsor. n https://www.teenkitchenproject.org
In only four months they initiated the process for licensing, received approval from federal and state agencies, and developed the capacity to test 400 people per day in a lab they built from scratch. Once established, the lab received a grant from the Santa Cruz Community Foundation to partner up with health-care nonprofits Salud Para La Gente and Santa Cruz Community Health Centers to provide testing for low-income and vulnerable residents.
22 / October 15th 2020 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen A s more people are cooking at home due to COVID-19, Aptos/La Selva and Central Fire Protection Districts are offering timely tips to “Serve Up Fire Safety In The Kitchen.” Cooking caused an average of 172,900 reported home fires per year, about half of all home fires in the U.S., according to a 2020 report by the National Fire Protection Association that reviewed data from 2014 through 2018. Unattended cooking was the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties. One-fourth of the people who died in a cooking fire were asleep. In 2018, fire departments responded to an average of 470 home cooking fires per day. Home fires caused by cooking peak at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Local firefighters advise: 1. Never leave food cooking unattended. 2. Keep cooking areas clear of clutter.
Thanks to an additional partnership with the County of Santa Cruz to purchase more lab equipment, they are now capable of processioning 800 tests per day. This team created this lab outside of their normal work responsibilities and burned the midnight oil to offer more testing to our community. n ••• Visit scvolunteercenter.org/events-2/ be-the-difference-awards/2020-nominees/ or email events@scvolunteercenter.org.
3. Have a “kid free zone” of at least 3 feet in cooking areas. 4. Never put water on a grease fire – use the appropriate lid, for that pot or pan, to cover and smother the fire. 5. Turn pot and pan handles away from the edge of the stove to prevent spills and burn injuries. 6. Make sure that you have working smoke alarms in your home. 7. Call 911 if you have a kitchen fire – even if you extinguish it yourself. n For information, visit the Aptos/La Selva and Central Fire District websites at www. centralfpd.com and www.aptosfire.com. For fire safety/prevention questions, call the Community Risk Reduction staff at 831-685-6698.
Photo Credit: State Farm
COMMUNITY NEWS
UCSC Molecular Diagnostic Lab at work.
