McKinney | July 2022

FIRST LOOK Community Garden Kitchen Nonprot helps the food insecure ‘dine with dignity’ C ommunity Garden Kitchen aims to create a true restaurant experience while helping those the dishes for the evening each day. In addition to the donated produce, the kitchen also receives a variety of assorted desserts that are presented on a tray to diners so they can choose what they would like to have. “We feed anyone who is hungry, BY CHRISTOPHER GOODWIN

“WE ARE JUST PROVIDING MEALS AND COMPASSION, GIVING PEOPLE A SMILE WHEN MAYBE THEY HAVEN’T RECEIVED ONE ALL DAY.” ANGELA POEN, COFOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

who may experience food insecurity, co-founder and President Angela Poen said. The kitchen opened its doors in McKinney on June 7 and served over 1,000 people in the rst three weeks. Poen described her journey in establishing the kitchen as a “steep learning” curve while also trying to nd the courage to network and fundraise for this project. “I’m nobody to just walk into a place and say, ‘Can you give me some money so I can build a kitchen?’’’ Poen said. “A lot of the money came in $25 at a time.” After discovering that Collin County does not have a place that serves freshly prepared meals, Poen worked with the North Texas Food Bank in 2014 to determine the severity of the county’s food insecurity, which is when people do not know when they will have their next meal. Poen found that before the COVID-19 pandemic, 138,000 people in Collin County fell into food insecurity at least once a year. That is when Poen’s mission to open Community Garden Kitchen began. Community Garden Kitchen serves freshly prepared meals for free donated from local grocery stores and organizations as well as produce from its on-site garden. Run com- pletely by volunteers, the one paid employee is the executive chef who Poen said comes in and determines

PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER GOODWINCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

no questions asked, no paperwork,” Poen said. “We do keep track of how many [people] come in.” Poen said she strives to create an environment that feels like a true cafe and reduce guests’ anxiety to help them “dine with dignity,” she said. The kitchen also provides helpful resources, such as coun- seling, housing and more. Other organizations are invited to come and present their services at the kitchen’s “Additional Services” table. “We’re bringing the people in with food and hopefully introducing them to some other services that they might not know,” Poen said. During the day outside of kitchen hours, the facility is used for the kitchen’s partner and neighbor Holy Family School. This agreement was established by the kitchen’s spon- sor the Episcopal Diocese, which established a lease for the kitchen’s space, and is completely debt free, Poen said. The community’s support for her project has been the greatest gift she’s seen, she said. “We are just providing meals and compassion, giving people a smile that maybe they haven’t received all day,” Poen said.

Guests at Community Garden Kitchen are treated to live entertainment by local painter Pernie Fallon, who paints a garden-inspired mural during evenings. Diners are able to watch the garden “grow” every day.

The new building for the nonprot was completed this summer.

The garden is used for ingredients and a learning opportunity for life skills.

Volunteers examine donated food supplies to prepare meals for dinner.

Community Garden Kitchen 501 Howard St., McKinney www.communitygardenkitchen.org Hours: Mon.-Thu. 6-8 p.m., Fri.-Sun. closed

FENET ST.

SENECA BLVD.

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Julie from Denmark, 16 yrs. Enjoys gymnastics, swimming and photography. She’s positive, fun loving and easy to get along with. Belgium, Italy, France, Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Germany or Thailand as part of your family for a school year (or less) and make an overseas friend for life. For more information or to select your own exchange student please call: For more information or to select your own exchange student please call: Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like to learn to play baseball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors. (for 3, 5 or 10 months) Make this year the most exciting, enriching year ever for you and (For 3, 5 or 10 months) Make this year the most exciting, enriching year ever for you and your family. Welcome a high school student, 15-18 years old, from your family. Welcome a high school student, 15-18 years old, from Belgium, Italy, France, Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Germany or Thailand as part of your family for a school year (or less) and make an overseas friend for life. your family. Welcome a high school student, 15-18 years old, from Belgium, Italy, France, Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Germany or Thailand as part of your family for a school year (or less) and make an overseas friend for life. For more information or to select your own exchange student please call: Julie from Denmark, 16 yrs. Enjoys gymnastics, swimming and photography. She’s positive, fun loving and easy to get along with. Julie from Denmark, 16 yrs. Enjoys gymnastics, swimming and photography. She’s positive, fun loving and easy to get along with.

(for 3, 5 or 10 months) Make this year the most exciting, enriching year ever for you and your family. Welcome a high school student, 15-18 years old, from Belgium, Italy, France, Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Germany or Thailand as part of your family for a school year (or less) and make an overseas friend for life.

(for 3, 5 or 10 months) Make this year the most exciting, enriching year ever for you and

McKinney YOU CAN’T STOP A HURRICANE, BUT YOU CAN KEEP MOM SAFE.

Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like to learn to play baseball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors. to learn to play baseball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors.

Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like

Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like to learn to play baseball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors. Pablo from Spain, 17 yrs. Loves soccer and would like to learn to play base- ball. Pablo is a boy scout and enjoys the outdoors.

Julie from Denmark, 16 yrs. Enjoys gymnastics, swimming and photography. She’s positive, fun loving and easy to get along with. Julie from Denmark, 16 yrs. Enjoys gymnastics, swimming and photography. She’s positive, fun loving and easy to get along with.

For more information or to select your own exchange student please call:

ALF# 147764

Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students

Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students

www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA. Jayne at (817) 851-8711 or Marcy at 1-800-888-9040 (Toll Free) or e-mail us at info@world-heritage.org For privacy reasons, photos above are not photos of actual students

www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA. www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA.

265 Plateau Drive | McKinney, TX 75069 (469) 717-0879 | HarborChase.com

www.whhosts.com World Heritage is a public benefit, non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA.

MCKINNEY EDITION • JULY 2022