Back in June, 4-H Club members who meet in Leonard set out to help 20 low-income families in Oakland County adapt healthier lifestyles.
Using a $7,200 grant from Kraft Food Services, the club began raising their own chickens and produce organically and a side of an organic steer.
‘The idea is that we want to encourage them to have cheap, easy, quick meals at home instead of relying on fast food,? Kathy Aubin, a mother of one of the club members said.
On Monday, all of their hardwork and dedication for project ‘Healthy Lifestyles? was put to the test as they served hot homemade chicken pot-pies and homegrown salad to five different families at the Grace Gospel Fellowship Church in Pontiac.
Taylor Aubin, of Leonard; Noah and Lois Gagnon, of Goodrich; and Evan Byrne, of Attica, along with their parents, spent the evening teaching the basics on food safety.
‘Trillions of microscopic animals called microbes are all over you,? Taylor told the families. ‘But without the millions of microbes in the world, you couldn’t live. For instance, some microbes help you digest your food and produce vitamins your body uses.?
She taught the children how to wash their hands thoroughly before eating or touching any food.
‘You have to rub your soapy hands together for at least 20 seconds, or singing the Happy Birthday song twice,? she said.
Taylor’s mother, Kathy, also noted that the biggest cause of food borne illness is mistakes in the temperature of food.
‘No food should be out for more than two hours,? she said. ‘It has to be less than 40 degrees for cold foods and above 140 degrees for hot foods.?
After dinner, each family was put at a station and either learned how to cut up a whole chicken, make a beef stew or make a fruit salad.
Kent Clark, pastor of Grace Gospel and CEO of Grace Centers of Hope, said most of the mothers in the program are really just learning to be moms, no matter what their age. Cooking skills and nutrition are not a high priority on their list.
‘We believe that there’s an army of volunteers out there,? he said. ‘This is just a neat project.?
Haley Justice, from Detroit, participated in the after-care program at Grace Centers of Hope.
She said her mom taught her basic cooking skills, like making soup, but never about food safety and preparing raw meats.
‘I think this is very educational and very thoughtful,? she said.
The 4-H Club raised over 100 chickens and large amounts of produce that they will continue to provide to the 20 families in the program throughout the upcoming months.
Besides the 10 families in the program from Grace Centers of Hope, 10 migrant worker families from Lapeer County will also be a part of the 4-H program’s project in September.
After learning various cooking lessons, each family was given a crockpot, an insulated bag to keep foods cool and a box with various cooking utensils. Exercise equipment, like a jump rope, was also in each box.
Recipe and food handling tips were made into booklets, care of Speedy Printing in Rochester Hills, for each mother to take home.
After their project is over Aubin joked that they’d all need a ‘nice long vacation.? She said it has taken a lot of effort from the kids in the group and that it has been ‘encouraging? to see the kids be so active.
Evan Byrne, from the 4-H Club, said when the project is over, they’ll continue to learn more and work in their various gardens.
Aaron Hubbard, of Leonard and Logan Byrne, of Attica, the other members of the club, were unable to make it to Monday’s classes.