Food for Thought

Orange County · 2026 summer program

Confidence starts
at the table.

Food for Thought helped young students build confidence in the kitchen through hands-on cooking, nutrition, teamwork, and creativity.

Student-led nonprofit initiativeSupported by the Dragon Kim Foundation · 501(c)(3)
Thank you for supporting our 2026 Food for Thought summer program.See our impact, photos, and videos below.
View Program Photos ↓ Donate to Support Future Programs ↗ Follow Us on Instagram ↗
MIX
LEARN
SHARE
yum! ✦
Every child deserves space
to discover what they can make.
COOK WITH CONFIDENCE✦QUESTION EVERYTHING✦TASTE SOMETHING NEW✦ COOK WITH CONFIDENCE✦QUESTION EVERYTHING✦TASTE SOMETHING NEW✦
01 Program impact

Completed 2026 summer program

250 students served through cooking, confidence, and care.

Food for Thought brought students into a safe, supportive kitchen environment where they practiced practical skills, asked questions, worked as a team, and experienced the joy of making food themselves.

250students served
6total learning sessions
3 main cooking days + 3 additional miracle berry labs
5+volunteers per session
OCSAculinary students led the program
OCSAhosted at Orange County School of the Arts

Watch us in action

A glimpse inside the program.

Students learned by mixing, tasting, asking questions, and discovering what they could make together.

Program highlights

Peek inside the completed program before heading into the full photo albums.

Chef instructor smiling with Food for Thought volunteers in the kitchen
Students rolling dough during a Food for Thought lesson
Students smiling with freshly baked cookies
Avocados, lime, and fresh ingredients prepared for a cooking activity
02 Why we’re here

Food is more than a meal. It’s a way into science, culture, and self-belief.

Food for Thought served youth ages 7–14 in underserved communities across Orange County. We created welcoming, practical experiences where students learned by doing and enjoyed every delicious experiment along the way.

Our 2026 summer program connected students with hands-on cooking, food safety, nutrition, teamwork, and creative confidence.

250students served
6total learning sessions
3 main cooking days + 3 additional miracle berry labs
5+volunteers per session
03 What students practiced

A little messy.
A lot meaningful.

Each session blended kitchen skills, food safety, science, and the simple joy of making something with your own two hands.

01

Make

Measure, mix, chop, shape, and cook with patient, age-appropriate guidance.

02

Discover

See yeast rise, flavors transform, and simple ingredients become something surprising.

03

Share

Taste together, talk about the process, and leave the station cleaner than we found it.

04 Summer cooking program

Three Fridays · Two sessions each day

What students
made and learned.

Morning sessions ran 8:30–11:00 AM. Afternoon sessions ran 12:00–2:30 PM. Tap a date to see what students made and learned.

Program location

Orange County School of the Arts

1010 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Get directions ↗

Professional guidanceA professional chef-instructor was on site throughout every session.

Extra supervisionFive or more volunteers assisted each session to help maintain a safe, well-supported environment.

Refresh and rechargeSnacks and water were provided, with breaks built into the program.

What students explored

Students mix and rise pizza dough, prepare fresh guacamole, shape and top their own pizzas, then cool, plate, and taste their work.

  1. Food safety & setup
  2. Mix pizza dough
  3. Make guacamole
  4. Shape, top & bake
  5. Plate, taste & enjoy

What students explored

Students bake cinnamon-sugar gingersnaps, then investigate how miracle berries temporarily change the way sour and bitter foods taste.

  1. Food & oven safety
  2. Make gingersnap cookies
  3. Miracle berry lab, part 1
  4. Taste, compare & discuss
  5. Clean stations

What students explored

Students practice a cooking method for eggs, then use ice, salt, and plenty of shaking to turn Greek yogurt into a soft frozen treat.

  1. Food safety & allergens
  2. Learn to cook eggs
  3. Mix frozen yogurt
  4. Shake, set & observe
  5. Taste & compare

Please note: Activities included common food allergens, and families received ingredient and safety information before participation.

View program photos ↓ View the complete program schedule ↗
06 Support Food for Thought

Fuel the next discovery

Help us bring Food for Thought to more students.

Your support helps Food for Thought bring future hands-on cooking, food science, and confidence-building experiences to young people across Orange County.

Donate securely ↗

Donations are securely processed through the Dragon Kim Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

07 Thank you

With gratitude

Food for Thought happened because a whole community showed up.

We are grateful to the Dragon Kim Foundation, Orange County School of the Arts, Chef Hammann, our volunteers, families, students, donors, and supporters for helping make this program safe, joyful, and meaningful.

Dragon Kim Foundation Orange County School of the Arts Chef Hammann Volunteers Families & students Donors & supporters
08 What’s next

Good things happen when a community cooks together.

Food for Thought hopes to keep growing through future workshops, school partnerships, and community collaborations.