CulinaryCorps

CulinaryCorps is an American non-profit organization that recruits culinary students and professionals to volunteer their professional skills on trips to communities in the United States.

CulinaryCorps, Inc.
Founded2006
FounderChristine Carroll (Founder)
TypePublic charity
FocusService Organization for Culinary Professionals
Location
Key people
Christine Carroll - Founding Director
Viviana Acosta-Padial - Program Coordinator
Websiteculinarycorps.org

History

The organization was founded by Christine Carroll following a volunteer trip to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.[1][2] Carroll and other experienced culinary professionals were helping to repaint a local school when she conceived the idea of a food-focused volunteer organization. Upon returning home she launched CulinaryCorps to enable cooks to volunteer their professional skills to assist communities in need.

Carroll coined the term "culanthropy" (a portmanteau of the words "culinary" and "philanthropy") to describe the organization's brand of food-focused volunteerism.[1][3]

Function

The organization recruits culinary students and professionals in the culinary industry to volunteer on week-long trips to communities in the United States. The objective of CulinaryCorps is to make a lasting impact on the community served, while simultaneously inspiring its volunteers to become lifelong champions of positive social change through food and cooking. CulinaryCorps members have volunteered on trips to New Orleans, Louisiana; the Mississippi Gulf Coast; and Puerto Rico.[1][4][5]

Impact

In its first sixteen months, the organization launched five volunteer trips during which, more than 3,500 meals were prepared by 76 volunteer cooks from across the United States.[3] Since then, the organization has launched additional trips to New Orleans, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Puerto Rico.[5] Each volunteer trip lasts about a week.

During each volunteer trip, the organization's team partners with a variety of local organizations to perform food-related projects for the local community's benefit.[6][7][8][9] For example, in the New Orleans and Mississippi Gulf Coast regions, CulinaryCorps has partnered with many local and nonprofit organizations, including:

  • Habitat for Humanity, where CulinaryCorps chefs cooked for hundreds of resident Habitat volunteers rebuilding homes following Hurricane Katrina;
  • The Edible Schoolyard at the Samuel J. Green Charter School in New Orleans, where CulinaryCorps volunteers instructed students on food, cooking, and nutrition;
  • Café Reconcile in New Orleans, where CulinaryCorps volunteers cooked meals and performed career mentoring with culinary students;
  • Real Food Gulf Coast, which, together with CulinaryCorps, designed and launched an after-school cooking club curriculum for children in the Ocean Springs, Mississippi School District; and
  • Liberty's Kitchen, a culinary training and job placement program for at-risk teens in New Orleans, where CulinaryCorps volunteers cooked for the opening gala celebration.

References
  1. Adam Fisher (12 October 2008). "Culanthropy". New York Times. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. Judy Walker (31 May 2007). "Volunteers Are Stirred to Action". New Orleans Time-Picayune. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. "Report from Taste3: 'Culanthropy' in New Orleans with the Culinary Corps". The Ethicurean. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. Megan Krigbaum (November 2009). "Culinary Crusaders: CulinaryCorps. The Mission: Mobilize Chefs to Do Good". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. "'Culanthropy' Travels to Puerto Rico". KCRW Good Food. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. Julie Schwietert (13 July 2008). "When a Vacation Isn't Just a Vacation: Voluntourism with the Culinary Corps". Washington Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. Bunny Wong (2 June 2009). "10 Unique Ways to Help Others: Learn How to Give Back to Your Community by Volunteering". Women's Day. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. Julie Schwietert (13 May 2008). "The Peace Corps for Cooks: Volunteer Travel with the Culinary Corps". Matador Change. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. Judy Walker (4 April 2009). "Culinary Professionals to Assist with Gulf Coast Recovery". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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