2019 January Paso Robles Magazine

| Health & Wellness
The Wellness Kitchen Moves Ahead
CONTINUING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
Local nonprofit in recovery mode after temporary setback due to fire
By Meagan Friberg
When the staff and volunteers of The
Wellness Kitchen and Resource
Center learned of a fire in their
building on October 21, 2018, their immediate
concern was how they would manage to
provide healing foods to those in critical need
in our local community. Despite the setback,
which included smoke and water damage, the
non-profit organization is carrying on and isin
some ways, stronger than ever.
“The greatest upset wasn’t as much the building
or the cleanup,” said Executive Director
Gina Grieb, “but the inability to serve those
individuals’ lives that rely on us for our healthy
nutrient-rich meals each week. The good news is
we were able to resume our weekly therapeutic
nutrition program starting December 3 thanks to
the use of a commercial kitchen by the generous
folks of Atascadero Bible Church. Combined
with an offer by the people of Fig at Courtney’s
House in Templeton, we also have a temporary
distribution location in North County.”
Knowing they are now able to continue with
their mission and make a huge impact in the
lives they serve has been a tremendous relief to
Grieb, the staff, and the 55 active volunteers of
The Wellness Kitchen.
“The response from the community has just
been phenomenal,” said Grieb. “We have received
donations from a variety of businesses
and individuals, we have more people asking
to volunteer, and our administration offices are
able to run thanks to the Dusi Family sharing
their warehouse with us. It really is a collaborative
effort and we can’t take full credit – we have
an amazing community supporting us.”
The fire also forced the closure of The Wellness
Kitchen’s storefront and weekday lunch
counter. The primary support for the nonprofit,
according to Grieb, will be their weekly pre-order
service of Healing Foods, Wellness Foods,
broths, soups, and Healing Tea.
“The funds that we have been losing will have
to be recouped and the pre-order service is one
way the community can help us,” said Grieb.
Funds from weekly orders and participation
in the 2019 Top Chef Competition events will
help support the Pay It Forward Program;
Healthy Cooking Programs for Kids, Teens and
Adults, and The Wellness Kitchen’s Operation
Sustainability.
“What happened was just a temporary setback
and we are going to overcome this,” said
Grieb. “We are continuing to thrive and make
a difference.”
For more information, to order meals, or
register for events, visit thewkrc.org.
The Wellness Kitchen
Weekly Pre-Order Service
Healing Foods • Wellness Foods
Broths • Soups • Healing Tea
Place orders by midnight Sunday at
TheWKRC.org/menu
See website for pick-up locations, days, and times
- Deliveries to the housebound as usual -
36 | pasomagazine.com PASO Magazine, January 2019