Growing GiGi’s Kitchen Program; funded by the FM Area Foundation

What a year of growth in the GiGi’s Kitchen programs offered at the Fargo Playhouse for kids, teens, and adults. The Fargo Playhouse piloted GiGi’s Kitchen programs through a virtual platform in 2020. With much anticipation of getting to cook together in GiGi’s kitchen our team had to delay officially launching GiGi’s Kitchen until we reopened our doors October 2022. Over the last year we have seen growth in this new program from five active participants to now over 15 and this fall we anticipate 30 participants and their families.

GiGi’s Kitchen programs are designed to emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle and early exposure to practical cooking skills. Under the guidance of program leaders (we are lucky to have a local Registered Dietitian volunteering her time with us), participants will engage in activities designed to promote healthy eating habits, kitchen safety awareness, food preparation skills, and social skills by applying learned skills as they prepare and enjoy a shared meal or snack. Our main goal is for our participants to take these skills beyond the programming at GiGi’s and into their daily lives or dream jobs.

With the growth, increased cost of groceries, and the need of “cooking kits” we are excited to announce that this fall’s GiGi’s Kitchen programs will be funded by the FM Area Foundation.

Thank you, FM Area Foundation, for believing in our participants and their families as they continue to build self-confidence, independence, and living our motto of Healthy U. Whole U. Confident U. GiGi’s Kitchen is an enrollment-based program for each session (fall, spring, summer). Recommended ages 6 years and older. For more information visit our website: https://gigisplayhouse.org/fargo/gigis-kitchen/ or email Morgan at programsfargo@gigisplayhouse.org

The FM Area Foundation is the community foundation created by and for the people of Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota. The FM Area Foundation helps people give back to the community and ensures the needs of the community are addressed now and in perpetuity. Working in partnership with individuals, families, businesses, and professional advisors, the FM Area Foundation manages charitable funds and provides grants to qualified nonprofit organizations and scholarships to students. The FM Area Foundation has been serving the community through philanthropy since 1960.