Charlie Cart
The Charlie Cart Project was founded in 2015 by the former Director of the Edible Schoolyard Project and a team of educators and designers. They set out to create an affordable and comprehensive food education program, giving kids the power to make healthy choices for life.
The result is an all-in-one program—a kitchen on wheels and a full curriculum with classroom-tested recipes—connecting the dots between food, health, and the environment.
This project was supported by the National Library Of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UG4LM012345. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Food education gets to the heart of our most pressing issues. Health, climate, and economy all are intrinsically linked to our food system. If we expect the next generation to make choices that support their health and the health of the planet, we have to provide basic education about food and its connections to the world we live in.
Food education is also critical to improved health outcomes. Today, one in six kids in the U.S. will go hungry. One in three will develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. Food security and healthy eating require two things: access to fresh, healthy food; and basic skills to prepare that food. It’s simple. Food education is essential for lifelong health.
Our Charlie Cart is funded by a grant for six months. Additional sustaining funding is being sought to continue the program.
Simply put, Charlie Cart is a durable rolling kitchen cart that includes:
· Convection oven and induction cooktop
· Stainless steel sink with spray nozzle pump and grey water recovery
· Storage cupboards for all utensils, pots, pans, dishes, and lesson plans
· Power and electrical system optimized for classroom use
Every unit comes fully equipped with 170+ pieces of cooking equipment. Our team has carefully crafted the ideal set of pots, pans, utensils, cutting mats, measuring tools, and much more to execute the recipes and lesson plans included with the program.
The program includes a set of 54 lesson plans aligned to classroom subjects and Next Generation Science Standards.
· Simple, seasonal recipes that teach foundational cooking skills
· Cross-disciplinary connections between food, health, and the environment
· Developed and tested by educators and professional chefs
Charlie Cart is being used in school classrooms and at community events. It will also be available during distributions at the Food Pantry to help clients learn how to prepare a variety of appealing meals from the food items they receive from the Pantry.
Charlie Cart has a trained instructor and several volunteers providing support. They will present the Charlie Cart curriculum in the schools and other venues.
The initial Charlie Cart grant funding ends this Spring. Donations and additional grants will be needed to sustain it.Donations can be made to Mobile Comunidad. The mailing address is PO Box 1107, Fort Davis, TX 79734. Donations can also be made online at the Mobile Comunidad website and designated for Charlie Cart.
Jeff Davis Country children learning with The Charlie Cart.
FAQ
We know you have questions about The Charlie Cart. We get it. We had questions too! We hope this helps.
The Charlie Cart Project was founded in 2015 by the former Director of the
Edible Schoolyard Project and a team of educators and designers. They set out
to create an affordable and comprehensive food education program, giving
kids the power to make healthy choices for life.
The result is an all-in-one program—a kitchen on wheels and a full curriculum
with classroom-tested recipes—connecting the dots between food, health, and
the environment.
Charlie Cart is an initiative through the Jeff Davis County Library, with support from the Food Pantry of
Jeff Davis County, Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library, and Mobile Comunidad.
This project was supported by the National Library Of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health
under Award Number UG4LM012345. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does
not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Food education gets to the heart of our most pressing issues. Health, climate, and economy all are
intrinsically linked to our food system. If we expect the next generation to make choices that support
their health and the health of the planet, we have to provide basic education about food and its
connections to the world we live in.
Food education is also critical to improved health outcomes. Today, one in six kids in the U.S. will go
hungry. One in three will develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. Food security and healthy eating
require two things: access to fresh, healthy food; and basic skills to prepare that food. It’s simple. Food
education is essential for lifelong health.
Charlie Cart is funded by a grant for six months. Additional sustaining funding is being sought.
Charlie Cart is a durable rolling kitchen cart that includes:
• Convection oven and induction cooktop
• Stainless steel sink with spray nozzle pump and grey water recovery
• Storage cupboards for all utensils, pots, pans, dishes, and lesson plans
• Power and electrical system optimized for classroom use
Every unit comes fully equipped with 170+ pieces of cooking equipment. Our team has carefully crafted
the ideal set of pots, pans, utensils, cutting mats, measuring tools, and much more to execute the
recipes and lesson plans included with the program.
The program includes a set of 54 lesson plans aligned to classroom subjects and Next Generation
Science Standards.
• Simple, seasonal recipes that teach foundational cooking skills
• Cross-disciplinary connections between food, health, and the environment
• Developed and tested by educators and professional chefs
Charlie Cart will be used in school classrooms and at community events. It will also be available during
distributions at the Food Pantry to help clients learn how to prepare meals from the food items they
received from the Pantry.
Charlie Cart has a trained instructor and several volunteers providing support. They will present the
Charlie Cart curriculum in the schools and other venues.
Yes! The initial Charlie Cart grant funding ends this Spring. Donations and additional grants will be
needed to sustain it. Donations can be made to Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library, a 501(c)3
organization, which will provide a receipt for potential tax deduction for the donor. The mailing address
is PO Box 425, Fort Davis, TX 79734. Donations can also be made at mobilecomunidad.org and
designated for Charlie Cart.
Contact us by visiting our contact page here.
Thank you for your generosity in partnering with us to Feeding Minds & Bodies in Jeff Davis County.
Questions about donating?
Don't hesitate to ask!
