Introduction to SNACC
A local nonprofit that teaches important skills for cooking and life is celebrating its fifth year of helping youngsters chef it up in their home kitchens. Sustainable Nutrition and Community Connection (SNACC), founded by Danielle Cohen, operates in more than 20 New York City schools and connects Bronx families with professional chefs. The program teaches eighth and ninth-graders how to prepare healthy, delicious meals at home, blending culinary instruction with lessons on nutrition, confidence, and community.
The Founder’s Vision
Cohen, who holds a master’s degree in public health, has long been driven to find creative solutions to complex challenges—particularly food insecurity, which remains a pressing issue in the Bronx. In a borough where 39% of adults face food insecurity, preparing a nutritious family meal can often be a source of stress. SNACC seeks to ease that burden.
Program Expansion and Impact
SNACC started in 2020 in just a handful of schools but has now served over 3,500 students between its in-school and afterschool programs, Cohen said in an interview. The organization’s afterschool program, Cook and Connect, prepares students in Harlem and Bronx with the skills, confidence, and equipment necessary for them to cook for their families and build healthier habits. The two Bronx-based cohorts have 40 total families, with plans to expand to 20 more.
Program Structure and Partnerships
Students apply to be part of the program at the beginning of the school year and, if accepted, receive a starter kit that includes pots and pans, bowls, baking trays, spices, measuring cups, oven mitts, and more. Over the course of 30 weeks, students receive a home delivery on Sundays with all the necessary ingredients for that week’s recipe. Then, students log onto Zoom to meet with professional chefs who guide them through each step. The roster of professional chef partners includes some big names, including Kwame Onwuachi and Josh Scherer.
Hybrid Model and Community Engagement
Although students do the cooking at home, the program runs on a hybrid model with meetups for field trips, picnics, and community garden visits. Executing the recipe at home allows for “entire family buy-in” and lifestyle changes, including making time to eat together and trying new ingredients. It also gives students “a newfound sense of belonging in their home, and being able to contribute to their household,” Cohen said.
Outcomes and Success Stories
Between Cook and Connect and the SNACC In School program, the organization works with young people from all walks of life, and the learning goes beyond the kitchen. Teachers and parents often can’t believe the range of healthy foods that even the pickiest eaters will try. With SNACC, students have reported significant changes not only in their eating habits but their overall well-being. Using “food as a tool to promote positive youth development,” kids learn confidence, social skills, creativity, and especially problem-solving as they tackle new challenges in the kitchen.
Future Plans and Goals
As the organization marks five years, Cohen said she hopes to partner with more community centers in addition to schools, so the program could become neighborhood-based as well as school-based. Thus far, SNACC has found success by tailoring instruction to meet the needs of all participants and listening to what each community wants. “One size does not fit all with public health.”
Conclusion
SNACC has made a significant impact in the lives of many young people in the Bronx, teaching them valuable skills in cooking, nutrition, and life. With its unique approach and commitment to community engagement, the organization is poised to continue making a difference in the years to come.
FAQs
Q: What is SNACC and what does it do?
A: SNACC (Sustainable Nutrition and Community Connection) is a nonprofit organization that teaches important skills for cooking and life to youngsters in their home kitchens. It operates in over 20 New York City schools and connects Bronx families with professional chefs.
Q: What is the goal of the Cook and Connect program?
A: The goal of the Cook and Connect program is to prepare students in Harlem and Bronx with the skills, confidence, and equipment necessary for them to cook for their families and build healthier habits.
Q: How does the program work?
A: Students receive a starter kit with cooking equipment and ingredients, and then log onto Zoom to meet with professional chefs who guide them through each step of the recipe.
Q: What are the outcomes of the program?
A: Students have reported significant changes in their eating habits and overall well-being, including increased confidence, social skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
Q: What are the future plans of SNACC?
A: The organization hopes to partner with more community centers and expand its programs to become neighborhood-based as well as school-based.
