PRESS RELEASE:
Date: December 1, 2012
Contact: Cindy Rockow, President, Psi Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma
Delta Kappa Gamma-Psi Chapter, based in Barron County, is a
service organization of 28 women teachers who are either retired or currently
teaching. Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) is
pleased to have received a $500.00 Sigma State Action Grant for use in the
promotion of literacy. Psi chapter
members recognize how important mastering the often-ignored nonfiction genre of
literature is for young people. For this
grant DKG is working in conjunction with the Cumberland Boy’s and Girl’s Club using
cookbooks and other nonfiction genre in ways that are educational and fun. We named this project “Kids in the Kitchen”.
We started Kids in the Kitchen October 4th and
will finish up with our 10th session on December 17th at the
Cumberland Boy’s and Girl’s Club; the only location in the area with a
kitchen. DKG members work individually
and in small groups to teach young people about working with cookbooks and
journaling their experiences in writing and on the computer. Also, as part of the education and fun, we assist
the boys and girls to prepare and serve nutritious meals on site.
Deanna Aubart, The Boy’s and Girl’s Director, and Assistant
Leah Hullinger, Cumberland Boy’s and Girl’s Club Lead Supervisor, have
partnered with DKG to continue the excellent work of meeting the needs of many
children in our area. They are to be commended for caring about the needs of
these children.
Deanna, Leah, and the boys and girls think that the Kids in
the Kitchen project has been a great addition to the Cumberland Boy’s and
Girl’s Club this year. There has been
an average attendance of 13 youth club members at the first eight suppers.
In Leah’s own words, “The kids have really enjoyed working
with the DKG members that have come to the Club to teach and cook. Some of the food has been unfamiliar to our
youth members, but the magic that the Delta Kappa Gamma ladies bring to the
kitchen is in preparing the food in a way that it becomes approachable and
tasty”. In the words of one of the kids,
“I learned that veggies are good in soup”.
Leah also said “One of the positive outcomes from this
partnership is that the kids are learning skills and recipes that they will be
to use the rest of their lives. Through
their positive mentoring, club youth members are learning a variety of skills, for
example one of our youth members learned how to fold napkins and how to set a
table. Possibly the best outcome from
this program is summed up by another youth club member: “I’m going to make the
food we learned about at home “.
Leah wants to also recognize the generosity of Bobbi
Momchilovich, Sharlaine Hemmingsen and Jeanne Nelson, DKG members who
spearheaded a fundraising luncheon to make sure that the club kitchen is
properly outfitted. The Luncheon raised
$388.00, all donated from leading area women who care about kids. To date, they have supplied glass storage
containers, bowls, measuring cups and spoons, cooking pans and baking trays, cooking/serving
mixing utensils, can openers, dish towels, a blender, food processor and
cookbooks.
Delta Kappa Gamma members serve to educate and care about
the needs of local youth by supporting teachers and local schools to achieve
excellence. Go to the Psi Chapter Blog Site http://dkgpsichapter.blogspot.com/
to learn more, better yet join!
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