Share Our Strength’s
Jeanine Markt
by Keri Davis
S
hare our Strength’s Cooking
Matters empowers families
at risk of hunger with the skills,
knowledge and confidence to make
healthy and affordable meals. With
the help of our volunteer culinary
and nutrition educators, course
participants learn how to select
nutritious, low-cost ingredients and
how to prepare meals in ways that
provide the best nourishment possible for their families.
Matters program and was excited about the opportunity to work in
the Omaha community.
Markt feels it is imperative to introduce individuals to things
that they may not normally eat or try and volunteering with
Cooking Matters has allowed her to do just that. Markt hopes that
what participants learn during the signature six week series will be
information and skills that they can carry with them through the
years to come.
Markt believes there is huge value in providing those in need, a
different perspective on food and healthy eating. She hopes that her
participants learn to “respect food and have a better understanding
of where it comes from.” Markt’s favorite memory from a series
Why get involved?
is watching the kids learn. She loves seeing that they “really enjoy
“Volunteering for Cooking Matters gives me a hands-on way to
learning and trying things that they may not get to at home.”
get involved in the community where I live and work. It lets me
Markt’s advice to someone who is thinking about volunteering is,
share what I know best (which is cooking) with people in need.”
“Just try! Especially if you have an interest, or even if you don’t,
– Cooking Matters Volunteer
just get involved.” Markt feels it is important for someone to pick
Hunger doesn’t discriminate. It strikes children in rural and urban
something they are interested in and just get involved
settings, from single and two-parent households, and it crosses all
in their community.
racial and ethnic lines. What all these children have in common
Interested in volunteering? Contact Keri Davis at
is that hunger puts them at greater risk of suffering the lifelong
[email protected] or visit our website at
consequences of impaired health and academic performance. Your
cookingmattersomaha.org.
involvement provides the knowledge, skills and confidence families
need to make the most of whatever resources they have and feed
their families.
Who is making a difference?
Culinary instructor Jeanine Markt has been volunteering with
Cooking Matters since November of 2011. Ever since she came
on board, Markt has taught multiple Cooking Matters courses