Empower Kids: Fund Little Chefs, Big Change

Who We Are

We are Vols 4 Little Chefs, a team of five individuals working together to promote healthier communities through education and nutrition. Our goal is to support an environment where children and families can learn the importance of healthy eating and trying new things. Partnering with Little Chefs Big Change, we strive to create more opportunities for the youth of Knoxville.

Little Chefs, Big Change (LCBC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings fun, informative, and hands-on programs to schools, camps, and communities to engage kids and their families in healthy cooking. They teach plant-centric, affordable recipes that kids enjoy. Many children face challenges accessing nutritious food, and this organization helps kids and families access the cooking skills and resources they need to confidently adopt healthy eating habits.

By collaborating with schools, families, and childcare centers, they aim to create a culture of wellness that promotes physical and mental well-being for children and their families.

What We Need

We are raising money to bring the Little Chefs healthy cooking classes to a local after-school program that helps kids and families in need. The Shora Foundation provides a safe, enriching, and supportive environment for low-income children in East Knoxville and is a current partner of LCBC. The money we raise will allow LCBC to teach classes to the Shora scholars next year, providing the funds for personnel, ingredients, and cooking supplies.

Each class that LCBC teaches costs approximately $400, so with a goal to raise a minimum of $1,200 and a reach to raise $2,000, a good amount of the 8 week program could be funded. Our group hopes to contribute money to this nonprofit in order to take a step closer to empowering families to create healthier lifestyles and build a stronger community within the Shora Foundation.

How This Helps

Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease rates continue to increase in the U.S. among children. A surprising 20.7% of Knoxville residents live below the poverty line. This directly affects the health of children living in Knoxville. Little Chefs, Big Change works to aid those struggling by providing after school cooking programs for under-resourced communities in Knoxville, increasing access to healthy foods, equipping families for healthier diets, advancing kids' nutrition knowledge, and boosting food enjoyment.

According to Little Chefs, Big Change, 93% of parents say that their child is more interested in cooking, and 80% say that their child is more likely to try new foods after the classes. So, this funding for the Shora Foundation’s cooking classes will provide more important opportunities for the youth of our community.

How Else Can You Help

Spreading the word about LCBC and this GoFundMe helps more than you know. If you are unable to donate today, there are many options available to help LCBC, such as volunteering with the cooking classes. You can also follow the social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you can’t donate financially, you can donate materials needed from their amazon wishlist. Finally, subscribing to their mailing list to stay up to date with what is going on is another simple way to show support.