Fort Wayne, Ind. — St. Joseph Community Health Foundation has awarded a $1,100 grant to Easterseals Northeast Indiana from the HEAL Initiative to support cooking classes for people with disabilities. HEAL Initiative is a partnership of Parkview Regional Medical Center & Affiliates Community Health Improvement Fund and St. Joseph Community Health Foundation.
Easterseals Northeast Indiana will host the classes at its Fort Wayne location’s hospitality learning lab using the Our HEALing Kitchen curriculum. Class participants will be adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities receiving support services from Easterseals.
The classes will provide hands-on, accessible instruction focused on healthy meal preparation, budgeting, and nutrition. Our HEALing Kitchen emphasizes locally grown food and the benefits of eating a diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats, sugars, and processed foods.
The classes will empower participants to make informed food choices, increase their independence and improve their overall health and well-being.
To culminate the class, Easterseals Northeast Indiana will host a celebration meal planned, organized and prepared by participants for families and community members.