Kitchens for Change, a student-organization at the Turlock and Pitman High campuses hoping to bring awareness and solutions to food insecurity in Turlock, was in the national spotlight on Wednesday when founders Audrey Smallwood and Elias Rabine appeared on an episode of the “Kelly Clarkson Show” in New York City.
Smallwood and Rabine explained the mission of Kitchens for Change to Clarkson and world renowned chef José Andrés before being surprised with a $10,000 donation from Conagra Brands, Inc. to go towards future Kitchens for Change projects.
“We are beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to share the mission of Kitchens for Change on the Kelly Clarkson Show, and especially grateful for Conagra Foods' generous donation towards our cause,” Smallwood said. “As we work to increase the frequency and quality of our food relief efforts, Conagra Foods' support is very much appreciated.”
Rabine described the experience as a “whirlwind” explaining that they were extended an invitation on Oct. 19 and flew in to the show’s filming on Oct. 23.
“Before we knew it, we were on a flight,” he said. “It was almost like we didn't really have time to let the moment sit because before you could really even realize what was going on, I was on the show talking to Chef José Andrés and Kelly Clarkson. It was amazing.”
Andrés and his not-for-profit, non-governmental organization World Central Kitchen, is actually what inspired the creation of Kitchens for Change in 2021. World Central Kitchen was founded in 2010 following the devastating Haiti earthquake and aims to provide meals in the wake of natural disasters and other humanitarian crises.
As for Kitchens for Change, the concept started during the COVID-19 pandemic when the two club leaders saw some Turlock residents not having access to a lot of meals. Both Smallwood and Rabine grew up in the restaurant industry and used the restaurant kitchens of their families' businesses to expand their knowledge of culinary arts and feed those less fortunate across Turlock. Smallwood’s family owns La Morenita and La Mo in downtown Turlock while Rabine’s family owns First & Main and Bistro 234, where chefs Nestor Olivares and Leroy Walker mentor the over 100 students now involved in Kitchens for Change between Turlock High and Pitman High.
“Very often, we are taught that we always need to follow a plan. What did we learn after the pandemic? It’s that very often, things never go as planned… Adaptation wins the day over planning,” Andrés said. “What these two amazing individuals have done, they’ve adapted to the situation, they saw what they had around them, and they did the most they could with what was at their disposal. To use their family businesses, restaurants after hours just to feed the local community is just a magical, simple, powerful idea. It’s people like them that [show me] yes, we can change America, we can improve America, we can change the world.”
Mohini Singh, Rabine’s mother and a culinary arts teacher at Pitman High, serves as the advisor for Kitchens for Change.
“I just feel like not always do you get a club that's just two years in existence that ends up on a national TV platform and meeting the guy that literally inspired it all. That to me is pretty amazing,” she said.
Mia Peterson of Pitman serves as the current president of Kitchens for Change. She shared how Conagra’s $10,000 award will help the club moving forward.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am for the $10,000 that was awarded to our Kitchens for Change Club by Con-Agra,” said Peterson. “This award will allow us to reach even more of our Turlock community who are experiencing food insecurity and support collaborative relief efforts… We are excited to be putting this funding to use right away in November by providing a sit-down dinner for our refugee and newcomer populations in TUSD at an upcoming Family Information Night.”
Kitchens for Change has partnered with the Turlock Unified School District’s Family Resource Center where they will be providing meals for newcomer and refugee families on Nov. 16. The organization will also help serve Thanksgiving meals alongside the Turlock Gospel Mission on Nov. 13. The funds can also help support weekly and bi-weekly club activities and meals for the community, which can also help keep things busy amongst their increased membership of nearly 200 students.
Wednesday’s segment on the Kelly Clarkson Show can be viewed on demand at the show’s official YouTube page, www.youtube.com/@kellyclarksonshow.
