Hello!

My name is Dr. Megan Bartley, and I developed Kitchen Hero Academy (KHA) as my occupational therapy doctoral capstone through Boston University in 2021. KHA is a free, comprehensive & intensive skills-based, garden-to-table nutrition program aimed at reducing the long-term negative effects of food insecurity among middle schoolers here in Hutchinson. (Try saying that 3 times fast!) We have successfully graduated 5 KHA cohorts, and we are thrilled to be gearing up for our 6th summer!

Here’s some background: Reno County continues to experience rates of food insecurity that exceed both state and national averages - an ongoing concern with real, long-term impacts for local youth.

This is why Kitchen Hero Academy is a critical and necessary program for our community.

KHA operates in partnership with Clothed in Compassion, Corp., a nonprofit pediatric therapy clinic serving Reno County. Over the years, the program has been strengthened by the generosity and involvement of more than 27 community partners and individual supporters who share belief in KHA’s mission. Their contributions have taken many forms, including financial sponsorship, educational and field-trip opportunities, and direct support of program activities.

The data: Program outcomes are measured each summer through pre- and post-program data collection. Analysis of this data consistently demonstrates that KHA positively impacts participants by increasing healthy food preferences, strengthening food preparation skills, enhancing the ability to make nutritious choices, expanding overall nutrition knowledge, and building teamwork skills. In addition, participants show meaningful growth in compassion and patience, whole-body listening, use of safe and effective calming strategies, and emerging leadership abilities.

We’ve laid out the importance of our program, and we’ve reviewed the data.

Now we need your help!

Volunteer: We are continually seeking dependable volunteers who are passionate about encouraging growth, learning, and skill development in the youth we serve.
Financial contributions: Donations make it possible for KHA to remain free for all participants. Each Kitchen Hero receives take-home cooking tools, cookbooks, program t-shirts, and additional resources to support continued learning at home. Corporate sponsorships are warmly welcomed. Please reach out to learn more about giving opportunities.
Connection: Do you know an individual or organization aligned with our mission? Are you connected to resources that could help sustain or grow this program? Your introductions and advocacy play a vital role in strengthening our community partnerships.
Prayer: Prayer is foundational to this work. We trust God to meet every need and invite you to pray with us for wisdom, provision, open doors, and protection as we serve.Every donation, small or large, makes a difference!

Kitchen Hero Academy 2027