Rachel’s Table Quarterly Newsletter January 2024: New Year, New Perspective – Q&A with Jaimie and Jason from the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee
Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts sat down with Jaimie Waterman (Nutrition Coordinator) and Jason Reed (Executive Director) of the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee to learn more about the roots and dreams of their nutrition program, and about how our work together supports youth in their community.
RTWM: Tell us about your garden and nutrition program, as well as your plans for garden and livestock expansion.
Jaimie: The nutrition program is built around serving healthy snacks to our youth on a daily basis and also providing programming that creates a healthy relationship with youth and their food. Our nutrition programming incorporates cooking and gardening activities in our classroom, kitchen and garden spaces. We also provide weeknight dinners at our teen program to provide a stable environment for teens to come sit down and enjoy a meal with their peers and supportive staff. Over this past spring/summer with the help of the Growing Gardens program at Rachel’s Table, we were able to establish a working garden plan and bring it to life. We have plans to relocate the garden area and expand this upcoming spring. The area will include our new greenhouse and a chicken coop to introduce baby chicks into our programming. All the upcoming plans will help grow our gardening program and provide our members with new experiences and skillsets.
Raised beds enhanced with trellises and fencing as part of the Growing Gardens program.
RTWM: Are food and nutrition programs like yours common at Boys & Girls Clubs? Why does B&G Club of Chicopee place such an emphasis on these programs?
Jason: All Boys & Girls Clubs focus on teaching our members about healthy lifestyles. While programming can vary from Club to Club, our mission is consistent; to ensure a great future for the young people we serve. At our Club, we have made a conscience effort to address food insecurity in our community. From grab-and-go hot meals, meal kits and produce bags during the pandemic, to full turkey dinners before Thanksgiving, we try to assist our families with the burden of grocery costs and access whenever possible.
RTWM: What do you find excites and engages youth of different ages when it comes to food and nutrition?
Jaimie: From what I have seen from the youth so far, anytime they get to try something new they get excited, which motivates me to keep bringing them new experiences. They are the most engaged when they get to participate in hands-on activities, whether it be in the garden or in the kitchen.
RTWM: Have you seen changes over time in how B&G Club of Chicopee youth relate to food, gardening, and nutrition?
Jason: In years past, the extent of our food program was a small snack served to our members after school. Over the past few years, we have expanded our program exponentially. We created a nutrition coordinator position, enabling us to have a key staff member focusing on food and nutrition. In addition to that after school snack, we also serve dinner to our teens at our evening program. Our garden has grown from two small beds to four large beds and a hydroponic tower garden. And nutrition programming is now a regular part of our activity schedule. Working with agencies like Rachel’s Table, the Chicopee Public Schools food service department, and others gives us the ability to continue evolving our programming so we can meet our members where they need us to be.
Teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee demonstrate how to make fresh pico de gallo from garden ingredients at the August 2023 Growing Gardens training
RTWM: What new experiences/skills/opportunities will construction of the new Teen Center allow B&G club teens with regard to food and nutrition?
Jason: Our new teen center, Haven, will provide a space for us to engage more teens in the city. One of the main features of this building will be a full kitchen/café area. This area will be used for nutrition programming, culinary competitions, and snack service. Additionally, we will be installing a concession window, where our teens will be able to operate their own concession business for events on our campus. This will provide real-life workforce readiness training to a population that desperately needs it.
RTWM: How does partnering with Rachel’s Table support your agency’s goals?
Jaimie: This partnership has been beneficial in so many ways. By partnering with Rachel’s Table, we have gained a support system for our food program where we have already been able to receive such great donations. We have also been lucky enough to be a part of the Growing Gardens program, which has helped us set the foundation to create a garden program that will provide our members with new experiences and opportunities.
RTWM: What other dreams do you have for the young people in your community?
Jaimie: As a nutrition coordinator focused on providing education for young people in my community, my dream is to cultivate a culture of health and well-being. I dream that young people have the knowledge and skills to make informed and healthy food choices and also have the support and resources to do so.
Thank you, Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, for such wonderful partnership!