Kids in the Kitchen

The goal of the Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen initiative is to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues. The Junior League of Portland - along with more than 250 other Junior Leagues throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom - develops a program each spring that engages kids in the preparation of healthy meals and educates them and their parents regarding nutrition and healthy choices.

The Association of Junior Leagues International provides guidelines and materials to support the success of the program with a website, www.kidsinthekitchen.org. The website includes bilingual recipes, tips on nutrition, fitness and healthy lifestyles as well as an interactive "Kids' Corner" with an online nutrition game provided by Kids in the Kitchen international sponsor, Cartoon Network. Cartoon Network also provides support for the program's local activities as well as Public Service Announcements to increase traffic to the website.

The Junior League of Portland is proud to participate in the Junior Leagues' Kids in the Kitchen. Junior League volunteers organized and guided second graders in Westbrook, and  with the Boys and Girls Club in South Portland,  with Kids in the Kitchen curriculum on making healthy eating choices and organized a healthy meal for children and their parents. The Junior League Kids in the Kitchen program is one of many examples of our ability to meet the needs our community and find strength in working toward a common goal.

Junior League Members celebrate 85 years of community service with a spring Done-in-a-Day!

Junior League volunteers began the spring 2008 Done-in-a-Day with a rally at Payson Park to honor our community partners and a press conference to officially announce our new focus area...Hunger and Food Insecurity. For the press conference, volunteers headed out in force to make a difference at these local agencies:

• Maine Audubon Society: helped with a beach cleanup
• Kids First Center: created snack bags for the Kids First program participants
• The Children's Museum: helped prep an outdoor exhibit and organize inside areas
• Back Cove, Portland: collected trash and cleaned up the Back Cove area
• Barbara Bush Children's Hospital: decorated sugar cookies with kids in the hospital

Check out more pics from the Spring Done in a Day project here.

Junior League New Members Spring into Action at Mission Possible!

In May 2008, the Junior League of Portland's New Member Class organized a successful day of volunteering at Mission Possible Teen Center in Westbrook. This Done-in-a-Day project focused on cleaning, organizing, and decorating the Center -  which provides teens with access to meaningful activities, mentoring relationships and supportive systems. The highlight of the day was creating a large, colorful mural as a lasting gift for Mission Possible.

Check out more pics from Mission Possible here.