Giving Opportunities

Give Now

“Stick it through, it’s not that hard to make change.” – Life’s Kitchen Alumni

We need your support

As you can imagine, supporting the ongoing efforts of Life’s Kitchen takes time and money. We rely on donations from the community to provide critical services and outside-the-kitchen support our students need to create success for themselves. For example, $3,000 sponsors a student for their entire 16-week training program; and by donating less than 5 hours of your time a month you can be a GED tutor to a Life’s Kitchen student. And Life’s Kitchen is always in need of donated food, in-kind goods or professional services.

Ways to Give

  • Sponsor the training program for one student. ($3,000)
  • Provide breakfast and lunch for 16 weeks for one student ($85)
  • Give a student a graduation knife set and chef coat ($50)
  • Donate in-kind goods or services to Life’s Kitchen
  • Coach students through the job interview process
  • Teach a life skills class to students
  • Hire Life’s Kitchen catering for your next company or private event
  • Volunteer in our Lunch Café

Please consider making a donation to support Life’s Kitchen!

You can now easily and safely donate online with any major credit or debit card or by mailing a check to 1025 S. Capitol Blvd. Boise, Idaho 83706.

Make an Online Donation – It’s Easy!



  • A Comedy of Errors…On Purpose

    I just got back from Sage International School in Boise after having made a presentation that was a comedy of errors…on purpose, for two second grade classes.  Normally I would consider myself wiped out after spending that kind of time with so many second graders, but I’m not.  I’m invigorated!

    Context
    Before I continue, this story needs context.  These two classes have been spending time learning about social responsibility, and taking responsibility for their own actions.  I was asked to make a presentation about responsibility, and if that sounds boring, particularly to a group of 7 year old students, then you’d be right.  I couldn’t just roll in to talk, then expect a good reaction.  I had to step up my game.

    Taking Responsibility
    When you make a mistake, you need to own the mistake, offer a genuine apology, then try to rectify the problem the best you can.  That is less than a five minute conversation.  I added an object lesson for the class: ice cream Sunday’s for the kids.  I brought ingredients with me to make a treat for the class: vanilla ice cream, bacon bits, canned corn, spaghetti, and ground coffee.  It was awful!  As I’m putting these ingredients together of course the kids are giving the expected comments like “That’s gross!”, “Nasty!” and the so on, and so on.  I also planned a few kids asking if they could have some, but I wasn’t ready for the number of kids who thought it would be great to try!  Note to self, gross food for adults may turn out to be just what a kid would want to eat.

    Making Things Right,
    As I was building the concoction, I “realized” that I had the wrong ingredients.  The best way to rectify the situation was to have something to replace the “botched” treat for the kids.  I of course had enough ice cream cups for each student to help celebrate the work they have been doing in class.  I offered a heart felt apology, and closed with a discussion on what they learned from me about taking responsibility.  Mission accomplished.

    It Really Wasn’t That Gross
    I of course had to eat some of what I had built, purely for the reaction.  Now, I would not recommend eating ice cream, bacon, coffee grounds, spaghetti, and corn at the same time.  It was however, not that bad.  Think about it, bacon is now officially good on everything.  The spaghetti has no real flavor, but the texture is something new for me when mixed with ice cream.  Coffee goes good with ice cream, and the corn was kind of sweet.  Sadly it won’t be making an appearance on our cafe or catering menus, but I drove the point home.  The teachers were happy with the lesson, and the kids were all hopped up on sugar as I was walking out the door.  Just the way I like it.  My one regret is not having had a picture to post along with this as the visual was worth it’s weight in gold.

     

To have your wedding or special event catered by Life's Kitchen: Call: 208-331-0199 • Email: erin@lifeskitchen.org