When students arrive at college for the first time there are certain things that they miss about home, one of these being a kitchen. A kitchen provides more than a location for eating; it is a place for gathering, conversation, and community. Many students take for granted the kitchens that they leave behind when they move into dormitories, so what we want to provide to the Allegheny Community is the comfort of a kitchen. By hosting events at our home such as Christmas cookie baking, students would be able to fill the void that is associated with a kitchen-less dorm life, and could also meet people with similar interests, fostering friendship and a greater sense of community.

Cooking is an alternate form of therapy. We feel as though the relationships formed with the students who come through our door would be beneficial to both the residents of the house and the participants in our programs. The community dynamic of our kitchen would help students struggling through the frustrations and stresses of student life. Ultimately, we feel that we can help other students by creating a space in which students feel they can relax, joke, and unwind all while practicing an important life skill that the college offers no opportunities to develop.