NOVEMBER 2024

Greetings Tony,

How beautifully leaves grow old.

How full of light and color are their last days.

~John Burroughs

The Hot Sardines! Awesome Jazz for a cool autumn evening.

They hadn't been back in Santa Fe since 2015 and the evening was memorable!

The Hot Sardines delivered their take on vintage and updated jazz during their benefit concert for Kitchen Angels on Saturday, October 26, at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

Many thanks to all the folks who attended as well as our corporate sponsors, Toyota of Santa Fe, Nusenda Credit Union, Siler Rufina District, Lensic 360 and Tito's Vodka.

The evening supported more than just Kitchen Angels.

The Lensic sent out this note - "Thank you for joining us at the Kitchen Angels' benefit concert featuring The Hot Sardines! Your presence and support make it possible to bring phenomenal artists like the Hot Sardines to our stage while also supporting outstanding local nonprofits like Kitchen Angels in our community."

Again, many thanks to everyone who came out and supported Kitchen Angels AND the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

Job Opportunity

Kitchen Angels is still looking for that perfect person to be our part-time delivery staff. The ideal candidate is personable with an excellent driving record. This position will deliver to clients for three new programs coming online this fall and occasionally lend a hand at KITCHENALITY for estate pickups. If you or someone you know has afternoons free Monday through Friday, and you or they are looking to make a difference, this could be the perfect opportunity.

To learn more, please email Tony at tmccarty@kitchenangels.org for the details.

See You at La Fonda

Remember, our Volunteer Appreciation Event will be at La Fonda Hotel on Sunday, November 17th from 1 - 4 pm.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Questions? Contact Dwayne Trujillo.

The Kitchen Table Santa Fe, a local nonprofit that offers use of a fully equipped commercial kitchen to "empower food entrepreneurs to innovate, collaborate and grow their businesses," is sponsoring a Sunday Supper to support Kitchen Angels. This is the first in their series of Sunday Suppers.

Tickets for the family style gathering, to be held 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, November 10, 2024, are currently available with 10% of all sales going to Kitchen Angels. For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here.

"Kitchen Angels has some really awesome volunteers and drivers. They really care about what they are doing and that's really awesome." ~ Audrey W

"Thank you again for the meals. Last night I had the hamburger patty and it was the most delicious meal I’ve had in a good while." ~ Maria F

"Your meals have been a Godsend and the drivers are so nice." ~ Beverly B

"The meals have been a blessing. Many Blessings to Kitchen Angels!" ~ Linda L

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Kitchen Angels delivery drivers are the volunteers who typically have the most face-to-face contact with our clients. And while we regularly share comments and stories from clients about the impact of our program or their interactions with delivery drivers, we don't always stop to reflect on the impact clients have on drivers or the many small ways our drivers help clients beyond simply delivering meals.

Mike and Linda Hayden have been delivery drivers for nearly 14 years (see the article about the Haydens below). "We volunteer because it’s a sense of giving back. We feel valuable in the community. We have a sense of feeling needed.”

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We want to hear from our delivery drivers about your experiences as a driver and how clients may have had an impact on you. Send your thoughts or stories to info@kitchenangels.org. Please let us know if we can use your name. Use the words "Driver Stories" in the subject line.

When we think of November holidays, most of us think first of Thanksgiving, then Veterans Day, and then, depending on our familiarity with federal holidays, Presidents’ Day. But there are many others. Some are pretty lighthearted and have to do with food, such as Cook Something Bold Day (November 8), which is dedicated to “cooking something bold and daring, that will fill up the house with warm, homey odors”, to National Parfait Day, celebrating both the French and American versions. 

Then there are others that are a bit more serious such as Caregiver Appreciation Day (November 13), which is intended to give recognition to those individuals who give their time to care for people who are ill, disabled, or elderly. In fact, November is also National Caregiver Appreciation Month. In the US, it’s estimated that 29% of the population are caregivers in some way, and 40 million Americans, age 15 or older, provide unpaid care to the elderly alone. November 13 is also World Kindness Day, which reportedly originated in Japan.

Other days are intended to create awareness about certain illnesses. November 14 is World Diabetes Day. In the US, it is estimated that 38.4 million people suffer from diabetes and more than 97 million have prediabetes. Exercise and diet are two of the most effective ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes. And that brings us to Take a Hike Day (November 17). A description of the day reads, “Walking, and hiking are excellent ways to exercise and get into shape. Hikes are distinguished from walks, in that they are taken in the woods, hills, mountains, or somewhere else in a natural setting. Hikes not only give you exercise, but they also provide scenic sites and vistas, that are good for the relaxation of the mind and soul.”

The bottom line is that just about every day in November celebrates something. And while Thanksgiving is the day that most of us focus on, sometimes it’s refreshing to focus our attention on other things, from the silly, such as Cliché Day, (November 3), to the more serious, such as World Freedom Day (November 9) which commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

KITCHENALITY

Time is flying and Thanksgiving is (almost) upon us!

KITCHENALITY has everything you need to prepare and serve dinner for two or 22 with style and flair! From roasting pans to china, silver and glassware. Come and get it!

Also, KITCHENALITY needs YOU! We need volunteers for Back of House. Unpack boxes (and be the first to see our treasures), wash, polish and get donations ready to sell in the store. Email Ellie Weisberg to learn more.

Saturday store hours are changing

Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM

and Saturdays, 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.



You can always follow KITCHENALITY on Facebook and Instagram.

Kitchen Angels Recipe Box



Quinoa is gluten-free and packed with nutrients like protein, zinc, fiber, folate, and antioxidants. The grain has gained popularity as a health food in the United States and other Westernized countries, though people have cultivated it in South America since ancient times. Hundreds of years ago, the Inca people considered this ancient grain a sacred food. This recipe is courtesy of Bob Horwitz, who borrowed it from Niko Douniko.

Peruvian Quinoa Soup

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced (yellow onion or shallot preferably)
• 2 potatoes, cut into small bite-size chunks. Can also use sweet potatoes or pumpkin.
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 long celery stick, diced
• 1 garlic clove, mashed
• 2 tsp Yellow Chili Paste (Aji Amarillo is the traditional Peruvian chili. You can also use Cholula Sauce).
• 1/3 cup quinoa
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1/2 tsp drieg oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp fresh coriander (or parsley or mint), finely chopped
• 1 lime (for serving)

Directions

1. Wash the quinoa thoroughly a couple of times in a sieve under cold water until the water runs clear.
2. Heat the oil in a soup pot (with a matching lid) over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
3. Add the cumin and then the potatoes, carrots and celery and stir until all are covered with oil. Cook for one to two minutes.
4. Add the oregano, season with salt and pepper, add the stock and bring to a hard boil. Reduce the heat and simmer with the lid on until potatoes are lightly cooked (around five to eight minutes).
5. Add the quinoa and cook for another 12 to 15 minutes until the quinoa is cooked (white springs are popped).
6. Stir in the Aji Amarillo (or hot sauce of your choice) until incorporated and remove from heat. Aji Amarillo will give the soup its distinctive yellow color and mild spicy kick.
7. Add the chopped coriander and stir well. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately with a squeeze of lime juice.

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If you'd like to contribute a recipe, send your selection to info@kitchenangels.org by the 15th of the month to be considered for inclusion in the next month's Halo Headlines. Use the word "Recipe" in the subject line and tell us your name, how long you've been volunteering with Kitchen Angels, and what your volunteer job is. If it's a "borrowed" recipe, give credit. If you have a photo, send it along.

We're always looking for volunteers. If you're interested in a regular shift or if you'd like to be placed on our substitute volunteer list, OR if you know someone who's looking for a great place to volunteer, please contact Crystal Hena, Volunteer Coordinator.

Here are the latest opportunities:

AM Kitchen (9am - 12pm)

• Monday - 1 volunteer
• Tuesday - 1 volunteer
• Wednesday - 1 volunteer
• Thursday - 2 volunteers
• Friday - 4 volunteers

PM Kitchen (12:30pm - 3pm)

• Monday - 2 volunteers
• Tuesday - 1 volunteer
• Wednesday - 2 volunteers
• Thursday - 2 volunteers

Substitute Volunteers

• Every day, every shift, every position!

We’re on the Lookout for Some Really Special Folks

Who Understand the Importance of a Friendly Phone Call

Please consider becoming a Volunteer with our Caring Callers Program. Show that you care about a Kitchen Angels client who faces loneliness each day. This program matches clients with volunteers who call them once a week to chat. Just one call a week can make such a difference! To learn more, please contact Adrienne at 505-471-7780 extension 207. Thank you.

Continuing Education - All Things Thanksgiving

The holiday buzz at Kitchen Angels kicks up at the beginning of November! We have groups coming in to volunteer for our Spirit of Giving, wrapping gifts for our homebound clients that are then delivered in December.

We also have people from the community calling to find out about volunteer opportunities during Thanksgiving week. If you have travel plans that week, be sure to tell Crystal well in advance so we can get visiting volunteers on the schedule. We love welcoming new and visiting volunteers during this time. Please give them a warm welcome and helpful guidance when necessary.

November also happens to be when someone from the state's Environment Department typically comes by our facility for a surprise inspection of our kitchen. It's more important than ever to ensure our commercial kitchen is spic and span, and we need your help. In addition to the regular food prep and packaging tasks in a kitchen shift, we also require a few other "house-keeping" duties. Once your daily tasks are complete, please ask Karen what else you can do to help with deep-cleaning.

Shift times are adjusted a bit on Thanksgiving. Please note the following changes:

Kitchen: One shift from 8 am - 11:30 am. If you typically have a Thursday PM shift and would like to come in earlier to help with packaging, sealing, and labeling, please contact Crystal so she can get you on the schedule.

Delivery Prep: Shift from 9 am - 12:30 pm. We need six of our best delivery prep volunteers for this epic shift. It's a lot of work, and so much fun! This is the day our delivery prep volunteers really shine.

Meal Delivery: Please arrive to pick up meals between 12:00 - 12:30 pm. The pick up procedure is streamlined and things move pretty quickly. Each client gets their own thermal bag and routes are shorter than normal so more people can enjoy the experience of delivering food. Please let Crystal know ASAP if you are planning to volunteer or will be away.

Remember, Kitchen Angels is CLOSED on Friday, November 29th. If you normally work on Fridays and don't want to miss out on the holiday fun, let Crystal know if there's another day she can schedule you for that week. The kitchen will need extra volunteers each morning for the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. The sign-up sheet will be in the volunteer room.

Community Connections

We want to thank our corporate sponsors for their support of The Hot Sardines Benefit Gala! We couldn't have done it without you.

Linda and Mike Hayden have been delivery drivers for almost 14 years. Moving to Santa Fe in 2009, they started out as substitute drivers in 2011, moving to permanent status in 2012.

They have delivered to Route 5 on Fridays for most of their time with Kitchen Angels. Asked why they volunteer, they tell us that, as their parents aged, they became less able to prepare food for themselves. Linda and Mike wished there had been a program like Kitchen Angels back then. 

They’ve had one particular client since 2012. One Friday, when making their delivery, they found that she had fallen out of her wheelchair while trying to get into her bed. She was face down on the floor. As the client’s emergency contact couldn’t be reached, they helped her into her bed and reflected that they were grateful they showed up when they did or the client could have potentially lain on the floor all weekend.

Their commitment to their clients is impressive. Mike is always happy to assist with additional client requests such as replacing bird food in the bird feeders or hanging up pictures. 

In December Linda and Mike will be celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary. 

Thank you, Linda and Mike, for your commitment to Kitchen Angels and the care and compassion you show to your clients. And of course, happy anniversary!