Check Out What Others Are Saying About Teen Kitchen Project
At Teen Kitchen Project in Soquel, California, teens aren’t just learning how to cook—they’re learning how to care.
In a recent Kaiser Permanente article highlighting the program, students like 16-year-old Lily Cabrera shared what it’s like to spend their summer chopping, prepping, and preparing nutritious meals for people too sick to leave their homes.
“I think the idea of volunteering to help people is very cool,” said Cabrera, who recently prepped 42 pounds of broccoli alongside other teens in the program. “It’s helping me think of career options, too.”
With support from a $95,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente, Teen Kitchen Project is able to serve 325 clients every week—providing not just meals, but a sense of connection. Kitchen Manager Alexis Keith sees firsthand how impactful the experience is. “Watching [the teens] build their confidence and skills over a very short time is just amazing.”
But it’s not just the teens who benefit. Founder Angela Farley—who started the program after struggling to feed her family during her own child’s cancer treatment—knows how meaningful it is to those receiving the meals. “Clients say they feel the love in the food. That’s really energizing.”
The article also emphasizes how meal deliveries double as wellness checks for clients who may not have seen another person all week, especially those with chronic illnesses like diabetes or cancer.
With over 1,000 clients served last year and plans to grow, Teen Kitchen Project continues to change lives—one home-cooked, heartfelt meal at a time.
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