Cooking for others

Cooking for Others brings volunteers together to prepare homemade meals for families and individuals supported by IYC Suomi.

During each session, volunteers cook, package and organise the meals as a team. The prepared food is later delivered to beneficiaries, usually through IYC Suomi's Food Distribution activity. Food is not distributed directly to the public at the cooking venue.

What happens during a session?

Each session begins with a short introduction explaining the menu, the available ingredients, kitchen safety and the different tasks.

The menu changes from one activity to another. It is selected according to the kitchen facilities, available ingredients, number of volunteers and practical requirements of the deliveries.

Volunteers may participate in:

• Washing and preparing ingredients
• Chopping vegetables
• Cooking the main meal
• Preparing side dishes or desserts
• Dividing the food into portions
• Packaging and labelling the meals
• Washing dishes
• Cleaning and organising the kitchen
• Preparing the meals for transportation

Tasks are shared among the participants, so professional cooking experience is not necessary. Volunteers should, however, be prepared to follow the coordinator's hygiene and safety instructions.

When information about allergies or dietary restrictions is available, the team takes it into consideration when planning the menu. However, it may not always be possible to adapt every meal to all individual dietary requirements.

When does it take place?

Cooking for Others is normally organised once a month.

The date, time and venue may change depending on kitchen availability and the number of participants. Information about each session is published separately through IYC Suomi's communication and volunteering channels.

Additional cooking sessions may also be organised in cooperation with schools, companies, associations or other groups. Organisations interested in arranging a session on another date are welcome to contact IYC Suomi.

Who receives the meals?

The meals are prepared for families and individuals already supported by IYC Suomi or identified through its community activities.

Recipients may include people experiencing financial difficulties, reduced mobility or other circumstances that make preparing regular meals more challenging.

Cooking for Others provides occasional practical support. It does not replace professional care, public services or long-term food assistance.

Joining a session

Advance registration is required because the number of volunteers must be adapted to the size of the kitchen, the menu and the available tasks.

Volunteers do not necessarily have to stay for the entire session. When possible, participants may indicate in advance if they need to leave earlier so that the coordinator can organise the tasks accordingly.