VCHS, Nebraska Extension Partner to Offer National Kids Baking Workshops Locally

ORD, Neb. – The Valley County Health System (VCHS) Nutritional Services Department recently partnered with the Nebraska Extension – Valley County to offer kids baking workshops in Greeley, Sherman, Howard and Valley counties.

The workshops – part of the national King Arthur Flour’s Bake for Good: Kids Learn Bake Share Program – encourage kids to give back to their communities through baking nutritious bread from scratch. Participants made fresh baked breads – half of which the participants were able to enjoy and take home, and half of which were donated to local food pantries. VCHS Dietary Manager Ashley Simmers, VCHS Dietary Cook Elizabeth Kirschner and Extension Educator Kayla Hinrichs led the courses, which included 29 total participants.

“These workshops were a hands-on opportunity for local kids to expand their baking skills, increase their confidence in the kitchen and share with our communities,” Simmers said. “As a community healthcare organization, VCHS is always looking for ways to partner with other community organizations to offer healthy, skill-building activities, and the recent baking workshops are an example of such collaboration.”

Nationally, more than 275,000 kids have participated in the Bake for Good: Kids Learn Bake Share Program since its inception more than two decades ago.

“We look forward to partnering with Nebraska Extension, our local schools and our communities again in the future to present on life skills such as cooking and nutrition,” Simmers said.

For more information, or to explore additional community partnership opportunities with VCHS, contact PR/Marketing Manager Beth Knapinski at 308.728.4397 or eknapinski@valleycountyhealthsystem.org.

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Pictured: Nearly 30 kids participated in the Bake for Good: Kids Learn Bake Share Program – a national program offered by VCHS and Nebraska Extension for local kids.