This Volunteer Appreciation Month, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Denise Kitchel, a dedicated Community Food Education (CFE) volunteer whose passion for food shines through in all she does.

Denise’s journey with Solid Ground began 13 years ago when she started volunteering with Cooking Matters classes downtown. She had to stop volunteering when her workplace relocated to Bellevue, but after retiring a few years ago, she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer again when in-person classes resumed after being paused during the pandemic.

Denise and a sea monster birthday cake she made for a friend

Denise has been an incredible support to our CFE team, bringing her dependability and enthusiasm to every class she volunteers in. As a Cooking Facilitator and Class Assistant in the Cooking Matters class series, she’s not only shared her love for cooking but also her deep understanding of the role food plays in community building. In Denise’s words, “Food is so central to social connections.”

In our Youth Education class series at Lowell Elementary, Denise has been incredibly supportive, jumping in and anticipating what was needed.

One of the many reasons we’re grateful to have Denise on our team is her creativity and willingness to go above and beyond. Volunteering in a family cooking class in High Point, participants shared their interest in making bread. In one of the final weeks of class, Denise amazed everyone by bringing in her sourdough starter and bread-making equipment for a special demonstration on sourdough English muffins. She sent everyone home with some starter!

Denise’s love for cooking is evident in her background, which includes taking cooking classes, assisting cooking instructors, and completing a Baking and Pastry certificate at the Art Institute of Seattle. Her expertise and passion for cooking are so apparent every time she volunteers.

Denise, thank you for being such a valuable member of our team. We’re so lucky to have you!

Questions about volunteering with Community Food Education? Email foodeducation@solid-ground.org.