Millrace Kitchen offered students from the C3 center at Neighborworks Blackstone River Valleys the chance to bake their own bread during February break. A group of middle and high school students learned the timeless tradition of bread baking courtesy of King Arthur Flour. This class was facilitated by Woonsocket resident and bread lover Emily Lisker and Roscoe Gay, NeighborWorks AmeriCorps VISTA Economic Coordinator and owner of Every1sChef, a catering and specialty cake business.
King Arthur Flour has been coordinating the “Bake for Good” program for 25 years in schools and youth programs across the country. King Arthur Flour supplied all the materials at no cost to the organization. The program was a perfect supplement for out of school programming as it provided a hands on learning opportunity for the kids. The curriculum incorporated working with fractions, measurements, and changing states of matter when yeast, flour, salt, and water are all mixed together.
The kids were enthused by the project and loved getting their hands dirty playing in the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. After mixing and letting the dough rise, they then learned how to knead dough for bread and cinnamon rolls. The smiles on the kids faces when they were watching it all come together were truly priceless!
This class is part of the youths “On the Move” curriculum, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Through this initiative, kids look at life through a healthy lens. They learn the importance of exercise as well as healthy eating….such as the benefits of natural, homemade bread!
The finished bakery products were then donated to Community Care Alliance pantry for those who may be less fortunate in the community.
