On Sunday January 15, 2023, Vetri Community Partnership was honored to host Governor Josh Shapiro, First Lady of the Commonwealth Lori Shapiro, Lt. Governor Austin Davis, and Second Lady of the Commonwealth Blayre Davis for a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and as a lead up to their respective inaugurations in Harrisburg.
The Governor and Lt. Governor joined 20 families and 60 volunteers to cook a nutritious meal together and pack bags of fresh produce for seniors living in low-income housing in West Philadelphia. Together, we packed 100 produce bags, and made a yummy Harvest Hash & Kale Apple Salad. Families, including Governor Shapiro and his family, got a lesson in knife safety, cooked together, and then ate together. Volunteers not only packed the bags of produce, but also helped make spice kits for the upcoming semester of Vetri Cooking Lab.
The day of service was focused around how cooking can help nourish bodies, minds, and communities. By cooking a delicious, nutritious meal together, families were able to bond and connect with one another and other members of their community. We chatted about cooking can be a relaxing activity that helps support your mental health.
When asked how the day went, Governor Shapiro said, “It was fun! I got to be with my kids and we got to cook. We’re here to serve the people of Pennsylvania and Vetri Community [Partnership] does amazing work of not just helping those who are food insecure, but actually bringing food alive to spur on innovation, creativity, and love.”
Vetri Community Partnership wants to extend our utmost gratitude to Governor Shapiro, Lt. Governor Davis, and their families for choosing our organization for their day of service. It was a beautiful, inspiring day. You can see more photos from the event by clicking here.
