Ohio Wesleyan University’s Department of Health & Human Kinetics (HHK) has received a grant from the William Street UMC Foundation in support of its Cooking Matters program, a community health initiative addressing food insecurity in Delaware County. The program is directed by Chris Fink, Professor of Health & Human Kinetics, and has operated in Delaware County since 2014.
Addressing Food Insecurity Through Education
According to Feeding America (2023), approximately 22,340 Delaware County residents — 10.1% of the county population — experience food insecurity. Cooking Matters addresses this need through education and skill development designed to help individuals and families make the most of limited food resources.
The program’s core offering is a six-week course taught by OWU Health and Human Kinetics students covering healthy eating, cooking techniques, meal planning, and grocery budgeting. Participants prepare a meal at each session and receive take-home groceries to practice recipes at home. Each series also includes food safety instruction, meal planning tips, and take-home recipes. Single-session events are offered at farmers markets, food pantries, and community meal sites as well.
Partnerships and Student Engagement
OWU administers the program in partnership with the Delaware County Hunger Alliance and a range of local agency partners, such as the Delaware Public Health District, Andrews House, People in Need, and more. Additional support comes from the United Way of Delaware County’s Collective Impact Grant.
For HHK, Nutrition, and Public Health students, the program provides hands-on experience applying academic training in a public health setting, reflecting OWU’s commitment to integrating scholarship with civic engagement.
The University gratefully acknowledges the William Street UMC Foundation for its support of this work.
Learn more about OWU’s Cooking Matters and Department Health and Human Kinetics at owu.edu/CookingMatters and owu.edu/HealthandHumanKinetics
OWU Sponsoring Organization/Office: Ohio Wesleyan University
Contact: Susan Zimmerman at sezimmerman@owu.edu