Front line in fight against hunger: inside Unemployed Help Centre's community kitchen
Several programs operate out of the Caesars Windsor Cares Community Kitchen at the Unemployed Help Centre, such as Meals on Wheels. It also doubles as an off-site classroom for local high school students.
Caesars Windsor Cares Community Kitchen at the Unemployed Help Centre doubles as an off-site classroom
Charlie Khoury is one of many high school co-op students working in the Unemployed Help Centre's community kitchen. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)
Social Sharing
Over the last four years, I've had the pleasure of visiting kitchens all over Windsor and Essex County. The one I visited this week, however, was particularly impressive.
Located in the Unemployed Help Centre building on Cantelon Drive, the Caesars Windsor Cares Community Kitchen is staffed by three professional chefs and a small army of co-op students from local high schools.
Every school year, the UHC's community kitchen prepares 37,000 meals for the Meals on Wheels program. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)
Tap on the audio player to learn how this facility is feeding the people in our region who need it the most.
This December, CBC Windsor is giving back to our communities by helping those in need. But we can't do it without you! Click hereto learn how to help with our annual Sounds of the Season food drive.
Meet the people fighting hunger in Windsor
Grade 12 student Matthew Doolittle thought he would become an electrician or plumber after graduating from high school. Thanks to his experience at the UHC's community kitchen, he's heading to St. Clair College to become a chef. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)
Ruth Matthews is a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. She's been delivering food to people in Windsor-Essex since 1991. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)
Chef Joe Ciliberto is a chef instructor. He's proud of the diversity and quality of the food coming out of his kitchen. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)
Chef Mark Wakeley is a co-op teacher in the community kitchen. He constantly gets calls from prospective employers looking to hire his students. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)
Chef Rafe Hanna is a cooking instructor and co-op supervisor. Originally from Iraq, he also runs the Connecting Newcomer Youth program, which is also run out of the kitchen. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)
Since opening its doors in 2013, the community kitchen "has really evolved into something special," says Mike Turnbull. He's the food rescue program manager for the Unemployed Help Centre. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)
Jonathan Pinto is the host of Up North, CBC Radio One's regional afternoon show for Northern Ontario and is based in Sudbury. He was formerly a reporter/editor and an associate producer at CBC Windsor. Email jonathan.pinto@cbc.ca.
