Gaining new skills through virtual learning

Virtual GiGi’s Kitchen Adult is a program where adults from around the country meet weekly to cook new recipes and learn about the importance of health and wellness through nutrition education, kitchen safety, food preparation, social activities and a shared meal. Under the guidance of program leaders, participants will learn about and progress through skills including measurements, food handling, knife skills, ingredient identification, palate expansion, and nutrition. Participants will be introduced to various cooking techniques. The GiGi’s Kitchen Adult program builds participants’ self-esteem and self-confidence through nutrition and wellness!  

Mason has been cooking in Virtual GiGi’s Kitchen Adult since January 2024! He has cooked Hawaiian Roll Fish Sandwich, Vegetable Minestrone, Baked Man n Cheese, and Chicken Noodle Soup to name a few! 

“Mason’s Best of All experience with the Virtual Playhouse is that he is participating in cooking; which challenges skills he doesn’t use every day! Chopping, stirring, and measuring are skills needed for cooking. He is meeting the skills with a great attitude and is very proud when he completes the task,” says Greg and Nancy, Mason’s parents. 

Mason shows up every week ready to try his best and push through any barriers he feels are in his way to prepare a meal with all his virtual friends! He is dedicated to the program and continues to improve his culinary skills each week. “Mason does an amazing job cooking virtually! He’s always giving us a big thumbs up when he completes each step,” says Claire LeBlond our Program and Volunteer Coordinator.   

“The Virtual Playhouse is important to our family because we are from the Sheboygan area and in person classes, similar to what GiGi’s offers, are not available in our location,” they tell us. 

This is why GiGi’s Virtual Playhouse exists! We are here to give opportunities to individuals with Down syndrome to learn new skills who don’t have a local brick and mortar playhouse to go to! We give them and their families a virtual community of encouragement, acceptance, and support! We couldn’t do this without the dedication of our incredible volunteers and your donations. You are changing the way the world views Down syndrome by supporting the Virtual Playhouse. Give now and you will be a part of bringing opportunities to participants like Mason and changing lives.