Madison Youth Unlimited requests county support for family kitchen cooking series

Sarah Wines, volunteer and board member for Madison Youth Unlimited, asked the council for support to run a four‑week Family Kitchen series that teaches cooking skills and nutrition, emphasizing fresh and local produce. Wines said the program expects four cohorts reaching at least 50 families and about 100 children and that funds would pay for food, supplies, educational materials and staffing (a chef educator and prep/setup support).

Wines said the project builds on a pilot funded by a now‑expired IDOH grant and that the program will use SNAP guidance and local farm products where possible. She said the Family Kitchen series aims to improve diet, family connectedness and local food networks and asked the county to consider funding staffing and supplies for the project.

Council members asked about program history and logistics; Wines noted Madison Youth Unlimited’s history of community projects and said the group is a scrappy operation currently without a full‑time office.