On May 1 the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, in partnership with Parkview Health, will begin taking grant applications for the 2026 Our HEALing Kitchen program.

The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) nutrition and cooking classes offer vulnerable residents with fun and engaging classes about how to prepare and enjoy healthy and affordable meals. Since 2016, more than 3,500 local residents have participated in the classes that are offered by area churches and non-profit organizations.

Using the Our HEALing Kitchen curriculum, developed by Parkview Health dietitians, organizations host a series of six to eight cooking and nutrition classes for anywhere from eight to 15 students. Organizations designate a program facilitator who receives training and coaching, as well as the materials needed to teach a successful series of classes.

Grants range from $750 to $1,500 and are available for churches, nonprofits, and other organizations that serve vulnerable or low-income residents. Grants cover the costs of food, necessary cooking utensils and equipment, cooking manuals, and a final class celebration and incentives.

One participant who took the HEALing Kitchen Class through Neighborhood Health Clinics shared, “I learned how to properly wash and prepare grains such as quinoa and rice to improve taste, texture, and overall quality when cooked. This foundational skill helped me feel more confident preparing healthy meals at home.”

One young man who took Our HEALing Kitchen classes at Wellspring Interfaith Social Services shared he was not too confident in his skills. Most of his meals were quick, processed, and inexpensive, because the thought of buying fresh produce felt both overwhelming to cook with and out of reach financially. Over the six-week course, he gained confidence in his cooking skills, learned to use kitchen tools he had never used before, and even tried foods he had never heard of. With the program providing consistent access to fresh produce, he was able to replicate recipes at home. By the end of the sessions, he shared that he not only gets to but is also excited to eat vegetables every day.

Applications will be accepted May 1 through June 1, 2026, for 2026 sessions. More information may be found online at sjchf.org or by contacting Jackie Martinez at JMartinez@sjchf.org, and applications may be submitted online through the grants portal by clicking on the “grants” menu item at sjchf.org.