Before opening Life’s Kitchen, Rory Farrow saw hundreds of Boise, ID teenagers enter her restaurants as employees without the basic life skills necessary to become successful young adults. She found herself not only teaching them how to read a recipe and properly handle a knife, but also helping them find their first apartment, learn how to manage a budget, and develop other important skills required for economic independence. After 25 years of informal mentoring, Rory founded Life’s Kitchen in 2003, and 20 years later they are one of our Winter 2023 grant awardees.
“The JPF’s mission of supporting programs that create opportunities through culinary training is realized in part by giving grants to important, impressive, local organizations like Life’s Kitchen. We’re proud to support this impressive program and provide tools they need to empower those with barriers to employment.”
– Rollie Wesen, Executive Director of the JPF
Over the years, Life’s Kitchen has provided over 575,000 hours of job training to more than 900 young adults, while providing more than 1,350,000 meals to community members in need. Each trainee passes through a 16-week, three-phase competency program, gaining expertise in areas such as safe food handling, knife cutting techniques, barista training, and basic culinary theory. The program provides trainees with both practical cooking experience and a high-quality food service curriculum.
“Life’s Kitchen is honored to have the support from the Jacques Pépin Foundation! Serving opportunity youth 16-24 years old who have challenges and need guidance to become independent and self-sufficient is our mission.”
– Tammy Johnson, Executive Director of Life’s Kitchen.
Photo courtesy of Life’s Kitchen
