Revive & Thrive Project has volunteer opportunities for teens in Grand Rapids, Michigan who are interested in learning culinary skills, teamwork, leadership, and healthy eating.

Culinary Education & Community

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3:30-6:30 pm

To participate, teens must be at least 14 years old and in 9th grade (or rising 9th graders during the summer).

No long-term commitment is required and sign-up is flexible to accommodate school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. On average, teens participate with Revive & Thrive Project for 18 months.

Teen chef participants must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, take direction, work as part of a team, and be active for 3 hours without significant breaks. No formal kitchen experience is required.

A Day at the Kitchen

Every day in the Revive & Thrive kitchen is different and includes new opportunities to learn about nutrition, cooking, and serving your community. Here is an example of our teen chef shifts:

Tuesdays: cooking and baking recipes for healthy meals

- Follow a recipe to create a delicious, fresh pesto sauce.

- Bake sugar-free desserts from scratch.

- Craft a hearty salad with a house-made vinaigrette.

Wednesdays: put the finishing touches on healthy meals

- Arrange entrees to look appetizing and include correct portion sizes for each client.

- Chop fresh herbs and citrus for garnishing meals.

- Prepare a special snack for the team to enjoy after meals are picked up and the kitchen is cleaned.

Hands-on Learning

Teens in the Revive & Thrive teen chef program have expressed growth in the following areas through their time participating in our kitchen:

- Culinary education - how to prepare a healthy, whole-food meal. 

- How to learn from different perspectives through interacting with kitchen mentors and fellow teens.

- How healthy eating is linked with personal well-being.  

- How to make healthy food choices. 

- How to work as a team, both as participants and as leaders. 

- How to become an effective catalyst for positive change and an engaged community member. 

- Skills that will enable them to be successful in school and prepare for future employment opportunities. 

Guiding Principles

The Revive & Thrive Project teen program aims to create a vibrant space where young adults can learn cooking skills, gain kitchen experience, and make a positive impact by providing meals for those in need.

We strive to empower teens, foster collaboration between generations, and celebrate their creativity and compassion. By offering a fun and supportive environment, we aim to nurture the social, emotional, and business competencies of teens while promoting community connectivity. 

Program Benefits

Revive & Thrive Project’s teen chef program builds foundations that support life-long success in addition to developing culinary skills: 

- Creating healthy habits. 

- Making plans. 

- Taking action to meet goals. 

- Understanding the importance of teamwork. 

- Caring for others.

- Building skills for a resume.