For Kate, a love of good food began with her mom. Today, supporting A Longer Table is one way she keeps that connection close while sharing it with a new generation.

Long before fresh, local food became popular, Kate’s mom was curious about where food came from and how it was prepared. She was a fantastic cook who passed that curiosity on to her daughter. When Kate was in high school, her mom took her to Chez Panisse in Berkeley, where she had attended college in the 1960s. Years later, the two went together to hear its founder, Alice Waters, speak in Indiana.

Kate’s mom has been gone for almost 12 years, but those memories continue to shape her relationship with food and her involvement with A Longer Table. She has volunteered since early 2021.

“Every time I volunteer, I feel a little closer to my mom,” Kate says. “What began as an appreciation for good food has become a way for me to share something that mattered so much to her with a new generation.”

Making Room for Student Voice

After 25 years as a Montessori teacher, Kate knows how much it matters to include children in the process. She appreciates that A Longer Table asks students about their likes and dislikes and gives them opportunities to explore new foods.

“When children are a part of the process, they are so much more likely to try things—and to discover what they actually like!”

That connection between curiosity and participation is part of what makes the work meaningful to Kate. She wants children to experience food as something delicious, nourishing, fun, and shared. She also values the people behind the meals: the staff, the chefs finding creative ways to introduce foods, and the Food Fellows developing their skills. Seeing opportunities for Fellows to grow, contribute, and shine is especially inspiring to her.

A Gift That Meant More

For her 50th birthday three years ago, Kate asked friends and family to donate to A Longer Table instead of bringing gifts.

“That meant more to me than any present could have,” she says.

Giving has remained an important part of Kate and her husband’s connection to the organization. They believe access to good, fresh food helps children be healthy, happy, and ready to succeed.Their hope is that their support helps students build curiosity about food and confidence to try something new, while learning about the people and communities connected to what they eat.

“Most of all, I hope A Longer Table keeps creating all these amazing connections.”

Through volunteering and giving, Kate is helping sustain those connections while carrying forward something her mom shared with her: a love of good food and all the ways it can bring people together.