Bread Head

Congratulations to our talented PAN graduate, Stephanie Dorzin, for taking the next step in her culinary journey! Stephanie was recently accepted into the Hospitality Training Academy's culinary program, and we’re so proud of her. She shared the good news with us and gave a shout-out to Bread Head’s PAN program for helping build her confidence in the kitchen. Keep following your passion and cooking up amazing things, Stephanie. We can’t wait to see you shine even brighter!

Strategy session in full swing! Thrilled to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse of this dynamic duo - Board Member Monique Katsansis and Executive Director Jolie Mason. Discussions are deep, ideas are flowing, and collaboration is at its peak. Looking forward to a year of innovation, growth, and success of our PAN program.

With all this rain and cold weather we're experiencing this week in Los Angeles County, it's the perfect time to boost your immune system and load up on antioxidants and vitamin C!

Meet Melissa! Another graduate from our Project Access Nourishment (PAN) virtual cooking course! Melissa had a blast in the class, and we enjoyed seeing the pictures of the delicious dishes she and her family made. Here's what she had to say about the course.

"This class has brought me so much joy and fulfillment. When I started this course, it sparked an unfamiliar feeling that created the best memories for my kids and me. I enjoyed learning, eating new foods, and discovering new things I wasn't even aware of. I loved that you kept us accountable and helped us stay on top of our involvement. It saddens me that we won't have these conversations and experiences anymore. But I appreciate the acknowledgment and the reminder to always be kind to ourselves."

Thanks for being part of the PAN family, Melissa!

If you love a little onion and garlic flavor in your soups, leeks are an excellent ingredient to add. Beyond the taste, leeks are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Soups with leeks will warm the body and boost the immune system.

2023 has been a GREAT year for new collaborations! Bread Head and Claris Health recently started their third PAN cohort this year.

Bread Head partners with community-based organizations and the populations they serve to bring PAN to communities across LA County. Our 8-week virtual cooking course focuses on building food literacy competencies for individuals and families relying on food aid.

Pictured: Bernadette Benware, Claris Health’s Parenting Program Coordinator, and Jolie Mason, Bread Head’s Executive Director, ready to distribute PAN welcome bags to the new cohort.

We love seeing the incredible success of our participants! Check out the delicious meals chef Jas made during the PAN program!

***Permission is requested and granted before posting any photos or identifying information of PAN participants***

"Thank you so much for this awesome opportunity. My kids loved getting their hands dirty today. The confidence that they got from this is amazing." - K.P., 2023 PAN Participant.

Every dollar donated goes directly to making a public impact. Donate today at https://bit.ly/3Sgrkf2

Great work, Stephanie and Kathy!

Our experience-based learning model of learning by doing, allows participants to develop skills in cooking, time management, inventiveness, budgeting, goal setting, and healthy and mindful eating practices.

Learn more about our PAN Program: https://bit.ly/407pA9Z

***Permission is requested and granted before posting any photos or identifying information of PAN participants***

Please share this free resource! Every fourth Thursday of the month, the Curtis Tucker Center for Community Wellness hosts a free produce distribution. See the flyers for more details.

It's soup season! Soup is an excellent way to make a dish that can last several meals without many ingredients. Our vegetarian and vegan participants love PAN soup recipes. Lentil soup is the main course of week 6 of PAN, and participants will learn how to make this simple meal with some of their staple fridge and pantry ingredients.

When someone completes our PAN course, we celebrate them! Here is a testimonial from a recent PAN graduate, Katrina R.

"Bread Head helped me change my eating habits and cooking habits. I am a single, working mom and very busy, sometimes the nights are so filled with homework and nighttime routines that there is very little energy left for family time. Bread Head taught me how simple cooking can be and enabled me to cook with my daughter. I never realized cooking from scratch could be so fun, simple, and interactive. Making the muffins and tortilla recipes became my daughter's favorite pastime and we began cooking together. I hope these recipes and cooking together will become a family tradition that I can pass on for generations. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to take the Bread Head course." – Katrina R.

The photo is a selfie of Katrina R. and our executive director, Jolie Mason, celebrating Katrina's PAN completion.

Please consider donating to Bread Head this : https://breadhead.org/

***Permission is requested and granted before sharing any photos or identifying information of PAN graduates.***