Empowerment Through Food with Feed The Mass
June 24, 2020
I had the opportunity to capture a cooking class taught by Jacobsen Valentine, the founder of Feed the Mass. This nonprofit is an educational cooking organization with the goal of bringing people together by promoting healthy eating, inclusion, and inspiring others to cook meals from scratch.
Jacob not only teaches cooking classes to the community but also helps to create healthier eating patterns. His teaching journey started when parents approached him about teaching their children how to cook and bake simple, yet healthy food. Well! The word got out, the Little Chef Class was born and other classes expanded from there.
“My family has been in the food industry in one way or another and it just seemed natural. I wanted to get in the nonprofit work because I love the community.”
Food is the ultimate connection and creating a space available to everyone became a value of this organization. Even though accessibility has been a challenge, since having a space for cooking is expensive, they still continue to strive.
On a mission to inspire, encourage healthy eating and promote inclusion they helping others to come out of their comfort zones by trying new recipes or even trying to cook for the first time. Students are taught the right skills and given the proper tools instilling a sense of accomplishment. Emphasizing the importance of knowing exactly what is on your plate by focusing on simple, raw ingredients in hopes of minimizing processed and prepared foods in their diet.
“We offer affordable cooking classes to the community because we believe food education and empowerment are crucial. We engage the community to give back so that people from all cultures and backgrounds can come together.”
Seeing people get excited about cooking is what drives Jacob to do what he does. When not grinding away he continues to cook up new dishes and enjoys the art of photography. If there were no limitations on site he would love to hire more chefs out of the restaurant and turn them into educators.
Feed The Mass is always looking to connect with more organizations in helping to increase the reach and do more for the community. In five years they are looking to be a nationwide program helping millions create a healthy living.
If this speaks to you as much as it does to me, please reach out to Jacob and Feed The Mass! We are one community so let’s shrive in lifting each other up.
Connect and don’t forget to check out the new location!
feedthemass.org
info@feedthemass.com
971.350.8291
”One day I heard the story of Jesus and the miracle of feeding the masses with 5 fish and 2 loaves of bread. The story wasn’t that he multiplied the food, but that if people shared the little they had it would always be enough. To feed the mass you need to teach people to feed each other.”
Need A Meal? Take a look at the upcoming schedule for their meal program.