In March 2026, BCAGlobal and Gotham Food Pantry came together at Bronx River Houses for a hands-on cooking experience rooted in a simple belief: the food already in your pantry can be the foundation of a healthy, delicious life.
Professional chefs guided residents through live cooking demonstrations, showing how to transform everyday food pantry staples into nutritious, culturally meaningful meals. Participants left with practical skills, recipe cards, and a deeper understanding of how food connects to family, health, and community.
Hands-on cooking
Live demos with real pantry food, real recipes, real results
Nutritional literacy
Understanding what’s on your plate and why it matters for your health
Mindful eating
Practices for bringing intention and gratitude to every meal
Cultural roots
Honoring African American, Caribbean & Latino food traditions as sources of healing
From The Residents and Participants
“So in our community have nothing but take-out restaurants, bodegas, chopped-cheese, McDonalds. Our community doesn’t really know how to cook some of the produce that we give them. And this is a great way for them to taste and see that a squash tastes amazing!”
- Norma Saunders
“Seeing people come in and try certain vegetables for the first time in a way that is both approachable and delicious, makes them excited and sort of opens up that whole new world.”
- Cli Rose, Gotham Food Pantry
