The ImpACT Youth Kitchen was buzzing with over 200 teens from across 25 schools
volunteering at various sessions throughout the day. Teens prepared and cooked
nutritious, healthy meals for local food banks and homeless shelters using surplus food
from The Felix Project.
Teen volunteers were joined by celebrity vegan chef, Ben Rebuck who led the teens
in recreating his tasty aubergine curry. The teens came together from across different
communities to roll up their sleeves and make an impact for those in need and brush up
on their culinary skills. Later on in the day teens cooked vegetable stew, and baked fruit
crumble and biscuits which were all delivered that evening to the shelter.
Ben, ‘the vegan chef’ said: “It was great to spend Mitzvah Day at the Impact Youth
Kitchen with the Zone. I loved seeing the teens hard at work chopping and dicing
vegetables to prepare meals for local food banks. There was such a great atmosphere
and feeling of togetherness – it really was the ultimate mitzvah!”
Teens were also later joined by special guests including Solicitor General Sarah
Sackman MP who said “a massive shout out to you for giving your time to do what
mitzvah day is all about – seeing that there is inequality in our world, there is poverty in
our communities and around us and not turning our backs, but giving our time to do
something about it.
Maya, Project ImpACT volunteer, said “It was so amazing and inspiring to hear from
someone who was previously a recipient of the food that we make at Project ImpACT
Youth Kitchen. It’s meaningful to hear directly from those who enjoy our meals and to
know the impact we are making.
We were also delighted to be joined by Councillor Sara Conway and Former Mayor
of Barnet, Councillor Nagus Narenthira, representing the Mayor of Barnet who said:
“Project ImpACT, are doing a service to mankind in many ways, feeding the needy with
cooked food is an honourable act – people who suffer with hunger know how important
cooked food is to their lives – I have no words, thank you.”
Teens were also heard directly from Marilyn who was supported by the Barnet Night
Shelter. She explained how they were making a real difference to the lives of people in
the community. “I was a recipient of what you’re doing today. I’m here to say how
grateful we are, when you’re homeless what you need is energy, if you don’t have fuel
you can’t move, what you do here really helps us. Now I’m no longer homeless.
Continue what you’re doing. It’s wonderful to see how many enthusiastic teens are here
today, giving up your Sundays to do this. Thank you for everything you do, we need
you”
The session was a special highlight and is part of Project ImpACT’s weekly volunteering
sessions that take place at the Youth Kitchen. Every week teens cook meals using
surplus food for those in need supporting people of all faiths in the local borough.
ImpACT Director, Chayli Fehler said: “On Mitzvah Day Project ImpACT engages and
inspires hundreds of youth to roll up their sleeves, get involved in tikun olam and volunteer.
We are proud of the ImpACT teens who volunteer every week at our innovative volunteering
and we look forward to welcoming many more teens across communities to volunteer our
new Youth ImpACT Kitchen supporting local food banks and shelters ”