All of us at Food For Thought are so thankful for the volunteers that help with all of our programs! Today, we would like to thank Linda Koch for all of her help that she has provided in the Emeril Lagasse Full Circle kitchen.  Please read below to find out what it means to Linda to volunteer at FFT:

After retiring two years ago from PepsiCo in Dallas, Linda moved to Emerald Coast.  It was important to her to remain busy and to get involved in the community while she was retired. When Linda learned about Food For Thought Outreach, she knew that she had to get involved, and she loves that she is able to help kids to cook at the Santa Rosa Beach pantry, but her time volunteering has also showed her how important it is to get involved and give back as a retired person

At a fund raising event Linda attended over a year ago, is when Linda first signed up to help in the Full Circle Kitchen.  She knew that she has enough knowledge about cooking and time to help, so decided to sign up that night.  

Linda has been volunteering with Food For Thought for a year and a half and enjoys her time cooking with the kids.  She said that "seeing the excitement in their eyes when they are able to create food that tastes delicious to them," is what she enjoys the most.  And she has noticed that it builds the kid's confidence when they see how easy it is to make some of the food dishes that are taught to them and hopes that it gives the kids energy to try and cook more outside of the FFT Full Circle Kitchen. "When I hear them tell their friends they can’t wait to come back next week, I know we’ve done something good that day," said Linda. 

Linda said that ever since she raised her hand at the fundraising event, she has been looking forward to every class that she has taught with the kids!

We are very grateful for you, Linda and all of our volunteers!

If you would like to sign up to volunteer, please contact us: volunteer@fftfl.org

We are honored to have been a beneficiary of the 13th Annual Chi Chi Miguel Weekend, which raised over $1 Million for eight Gulf Coast non-profit organizations! We want to give a huge thank you to the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, who organized this fun filled weekend, and who has been a supporter of Food For Thought Outreach for so many years. 

During the Chi Chi Miguel Throwdown Benefit Auction and BBQ, two of our students from the Emeril Lagasse Full Circle Kitchen, along with two students from Emeril's Culinary program at the Seaside School cooked and served their own culinary menu to attendees of the fundraiser.  It was great to see how these students are benefiting and learning from these culinary programs in our area, helped made possible by fundraisers like these.

Thank you again to all the winemakers, chefs, volunteers and sponsors that made this event possible; it truly was a fun day and an honor to be a part of!

We are very excited and proud for Food For Thought Outreach to be a beneficiary of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Chi Chi Miguel Weekend! This fun-filled event is just a few weeks away, occurring the weekend of April 4-6.  

The weekend will include the Wine Walk About, Wine and Dine, a Golf Tournament, a Sip-N-Shop Event, and the Throwdown Benefit Auction and BBQ. 

During the event, two students who participate in the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Full Circle kitchen will be teaming up two students from the Seaside School culinary program to make and serve food to event guests. This will be a great showcase of what students are learning in the Full Circle Kitchen!

We, feel very fortunate that Food For Thought is able to be a part of this benefit along side the many other non-profits. If you are interested in attending all or part of this weekend fundraising event, you can learn more information HERE and purchase tickets HERE.

We can hardly believe that it has been two years already since the Emeril Lagasse Full Circle Kitchen opened! This month, marks two years of giving kids the opportunity to learn to the invaluable life skill of learning their way around the kitchen, and of course how to prepare and cook food! 

Food For Thought Fun Fact: The Emeril Lagasse Full Circle Kitchen is used THREE times a week and serves as a kitchen classroom for kids as far as Pensacola!

We have enjoyed watching the kids learn and have fun while cooking in the Full Circle Kitchen, as well as watching our volunteers and local chefs have a great time teaching and dining with the kids.

If you enjoy cooking or are looking for an interactive way to give back to kids in need in our community, contact us today to learn more about how you can help in our Emeril Lagasse Full Circle Kitchen!

Contact us at: support@fftfl.org

We also are very appreciative for the support of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation to our Full Circle Kitchen!

This exclusive weekend-long fundraiser benefiting multiple charities, many local, including Food For Thought, still has tickets available to the Chi Chi Miguel Throwdown on Saturday, April 1 at Churchill Oaks in Santa Rosa Beach.  Don't miss the "See and Be Seen" event with all the makings - over 20 vintners as a matter-of-fact - for an incredibly fun experience!!  You can purchase these tickets HERE.  For more information on the event, click the logo below.

Thank you Emeril Lagasse Foundation for all you do for Food For Thought and our community!!