TEEN KITCHEN PROJECT A N N U A L R E P O R T July 1, 2023 / June 30, 2024
I am delighted to share our Annual Report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. I hope you read it with a sense of pride for what your gifts and support of Teen Kitchen Project (TKP) has made possible. For twelve years, TKP as been engaging youth in the preparation of meals delivered to clients living with critical and chronic illness.
Youth development is at the core of what we do. This past year, we served 55% more youth in our kitchens. Guided by our TKP adult chefs, they prepare hundreds of Medically Tailored Meals per day. Youth work together as they develop lifelong cooking skills while building their leadership skills. Youth report feeling an increased connection to their community and self confidence as a result of doing this very meaningful work. In fiscal year 2024, TKP saw a 40% increase in clients, serving 1,016 households. TKP delivered a record-breaking 114,492 meals, a 45% increase from the previous year. Serving these increasing numbers takes a dedicated team of staff, community partners, and a committed board of directors. In addition, it requires donations from generous individuals, foundations, businesses, and government agencies. In short, we could not accomplish this feat without a community of supporters like you behind us! Today, TKP is a statewide leader in the food is medicine movement, working to ensure Medically Tailored Meals (MTM) become an integral part of healthcare interventions statewide so anyone living with critical and chronic illness has access to nutrition security through meal support. In 2022, the local Medi-Cal plan provider, Central California Alliance for Health, began offering a program called Community Supports to offer specialized interventions to meet the unique needs of Medi-Cal members. This program is designed to test out how interventions translate to cost savings for the plan provider and include a reimbursement to TKP for meals provided. This reimbursement program has created an opportunity for TKP to increase capacity and reach more clients in the coming years. To accommodate the new demand for services, TKP started raising funds in 2023 for a new home to include kitchen and offices. This $3.5 million capital project is crucial to address the increasing needs of the critically ill in Santa Cruz County. As we continue striving toward our goal, I am confident we can rise to the challenge with your support! Warmly, Angela Farley / Executive Director