A Teaching Kitchen for the JCC

Kitchen Saver believes strongly in the importance of community and supports causes throughout our region. We donate time, money, and what we’re best at: building beautiful, useful kitchens.  Each year we donate a kitchen refacing to an Ohio area veteran, and last year a local firehouse got a spectacular kitchen upgrade. This year, we donated a new kitchen to an early childhood center at the JCC in Owings Mills.

The Roslyn and Len Stoler Early Childhood Center includes a focus on healthy eating as a part of their curriculum. Hands-on experience with cooking and safety is invaluable in learning these skills. Because of this, a kitchen suited for teaching in was part of their needs.

Kitchen Saver designed a two-part kitchen that fit the bill exactly. The first part is a large kitchen that meets the needs of the center as a whole, and the second part is a kitchen classroom. 

This kitchen classroom is designed for teaching children about healthy foods and kitchen safety. The clean, simple style keeps the kids’ focus on the teacher and the materials, and there’s plenty of room for a whole class of little students! Two low tables hold 14 or more students where they can clearly see and assist with the steps of cooking.New cabinets were made and installed for both the larger kitchen, the teaching kitchen and the smaller kids area. What really stands out is the custom cabinetry along one wall, where a section of cabinets is only a foot or two high.

These unique, shorter kitchen cabinets allow children, even preschool children, to work at their own height.  They can reach the counters and wash their hands easily and without assistance. Without being challenged by working spaces far too large for them, the kids are free to focus on learning new skills.

The new kitchen is popular with the teachers as well. “I was surprised at how quickly and quietly it was done“ said a preschool teacher working in the larger kitchen. “We didn’t hear anything in our classrooms.”

One teacher was preparing zucchini bread ingredients for a lesson on zucchini. Another prepared pancakes for her lesson. “We are very excited to be using the kitchen, especially the kids”, she went on to say. “They[the cabinets] are beautiful but also functional, which is key”.

The cabinets are made of a high quality, durable laminate. The neutral colors grey and graphite combine with woodgrain patterned doors for a calm and homey feeling. The contemporary slab style of the doors and straight trim keep the design simple and clean. The bar-style handles and drawer pulls are easy to use for all ages and blend well with the look.

The independence and creativity found in a kitchen will be a lifelong benefit for the children who learn here. To see more of this remarkable kitchen, visit the gallery here or by clicking any of the images. Kitchen Saver is delighted to be able to give back to the community by doing what we do best!