10/27/14, 8:33 AM YSOC to open teaching kitchen for teens in need - The Edmond Sun: Lifestyles

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YSOC to open teaching kitchen for teens in need
Special to The Sun | Posted: Sunday, October 26, 2014 1:42 pm
OKLAHOMA CITY Youth Services for Oklahoma County prides itself as an organization that teaches
kids the skills they need to be successful as adults. Starting Nov. 6, the adolescents served by YSOC will
have the opportunity to learn skills in the kitchen.
YSOCs Power Hour Kitchen Shower will be at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6 for the official opening of Caf 29,
the name given to the new teaching kitchen at the agency in Oklahoma City. The kitchen was made
possible by a $50,000 grant from Oklahoma City Rotary Club 29.
When YSOC proposed building a teaching kitchen as a way to teach adolescents how to live on their
own, we knew this was a worthwhile project that was going to make a difference in young peoples
lives, said Marion Paden of Rotary Club 29.
YSOCs teens will learn how to cook using appliances and kitchen items donated to the nonprofit
organization. The kitchen also will serve as a classroom for job training and nutrition and cooking
classes. The adolescents also will learn how to clean the kitchen properly, rounding out a skill set that
will effectively transfer to the teens daily lives.
The kitchen is an interactive tool we can use to show our kids how to develop into responsible adults,
YSOC CEO Debbie Forshee said. We are grateful to the members of Rotary Club 29 for believing in our
dream and providing us a grant to make it a reality. We also appreciate the individual donors who will
make sure we have the cooking equipment and cleaning supplies we need. This has been a team effort
that will benefit some great kids for years to come.
The kitchens ribbon cutting is being held at YSOCs administrative building at 201 N.E. 50th St. in
Oklahoma City. Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs also will be on hand to provide food for the event.
The event is open to the public, and anyone interested in donating kitchen items can visit the agencys
website to find links to YSOCs gift registries at Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Youth Services for Oklahoma County is a nonprofit community organization in its 41st year of serving
families in the community in a variety of ways. The agency provides shelter, behavioral health services,
tutoring, mentoring and counseling for youth and families that are struggling with the daily trials of life.
YSOC serves adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 years old.