To say that Della Hicks is a regular presence in the Food Bank’s Teaching Kitchen would be an understatement.
Whether she’s cooking up fresh tuna burgers, a vegetarian-based chili with red beans and butternut squash, or a new take on coleslaw, her contributions have helped our neighbors learn new ways to cook and eat healthy for over 20 years.
Della is the Extension EFNEP Educator with the NC Cooperative Extension Office in Pasquotank County, with a career spanning nearly three decades. EFNEP, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, offers free nutrition classes to help our neighbors explore new recipes, learn safe food handling, and explore new creative recipes. EFNEP is a program of Cooperative Extension through NC State University and NC A&T State University.
Healthy Eating Begins in the Kitchen
“The partnership began in the 2000’s with the Food Bank, working with Mrs. Laura Williams (former Pantry Coordinator with Food Bank of the Albemarle) and NC EFNEP Program Assistant Yvonne Mullen,” Della says. “I started sharing NC EFNEP in the Food Pantry, a 12×14 room with about 22 participants and a 30-minute rotating session on ‘Families Eating Smart’ and ‘Moving More’. Now we have access to the wonderful Teaching Kitchen at the Food Bank, providing the neighbors a chance to see hands-on food preparation of recipes and enjoy samples of the food items they have access to in the HUB.”
Teaching Kitchen Classes Feature Recipes from Food Pantry Items
Guests to the Neighborhood Hub Food Pantry look forward to the variety of shelf-stable and frozen items, but also the wide variety of fresh produce donated by our local farmers. Neighbors attend Della’s morning classes in the Teaching Kitchen before stopping into the food pantry to see that week’s items. Della provides information on healthy eating and creates recipes with food that is available in the pantry.
“Change sometimes can be difficult for families during uncertain times (the economy),” Della says. “Helping neighbors to find a different way to experience new or different dishes to feed their families will always be a way for me to give them confidence.”
Della says that future nutrition possibilities with EFNEP in the Food Bank Teaching Kitchen include Dining with Diabetes, Mommy and I May Be Grey, but I Love to Eat for senior citizens.
Healthy Futures Start Today with Healthy Choices
“My reward is sharing the opportunity to Educate, provide Community Resources, Include Physical Activity, and put a smile on your Face, Heart, and Stomach with NC EFNEP.”
Food Bank of the Albemarle is proud to partner with the NC Cooperative Extension Office and the EFNEP program, and all of Della Hick’s contributions over the past three decades.
Learn more about EFNEP and the NC Cooperative Extension Program here.
