Frequently Asked Questions

We have secured a long-term lease on a space in Soquel that we will modify to build a headquarters for the organization. The facility will include a production kitchen which will double as a teaching kitchen for classes and camps, and offices for our staff. The new kitchen will also open up opportunities to increase earned revenue. Teen Kitchen Project is registered with Santa Cruz County as food provider in case of emergencies, and TKP’s kitchens stepped up after the fires in 2020 to support neighbors in need of food support. Having a reliable kitchen we can access at any time ensure we can be there when called upon to provide food support in an emergency and provide a location for potential collaboration with other nonprofits in the area.

• Need and demand has exploded. We have new application for services each week and want to be able to serve as many clients and teens as possible.
• Maxed out on space. The potential instability of our current lease environment presents significant risk to TKP as an organization. Although we have invested over $60,000 in tenant improvements to our current space, no more adjustments can be made to increase space.
• Medi-Cal eligibility = ability to serve more clients. California’s Medi-Cal health plans can now offer and pay for meals and nutritional counseling services like Teen Kitchen Project provides. Providing Medi-Cal members healthy meals and nutritional support, and then getting reimbursed for this service offers a sustainable source of funding to help many more people who need our services.
• Teen Kitchen Project is the only nonprofit in Santa Cruz County that prepares and delivers freshly prepared medically tailored meals.

• Serve three times as many clients– that means at least 3,400 clients and their families receiving healthy meals and nutritional counseling sessions each year once our kitchen is fully operational.
• At least 50% more youth benefitting from participating in our program- learning how to cook healthy food while gaining lifelong skills and making a difference in the lives of others.
• All of our staff under one roof. At one location we can better support one another as well as daily operations such as meal production.

In Soquel, near the intersection of 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive.

• A 10 minute walk from Soquel High School, within 5-minute drive of Harbor High School, and 15 minute drive from Aptos  and Santa Cruz High School.
•  Central for delivery, close to Highway 1 and Soquel Drive.

$2.6 million, with $2.2 million already raised. We have started building and hope to move in October 1, 2026. Contact Angela Farley today for a tour and to learn more about how you can support! Angela@nullTeenKitchenProject.org or call 831-316-4540 extension 700.

Teen Kitchen Project has started building! Learn more by taking a Hard Hat Tour! Register for a tour HERE.