Community Vision Provides $1.2 Million to Teen Kitchen Project to Expand Access to Medically Tailored Meals in Santa Cruz County
Financing will support construction of a new kitchen and headquarters, helping the nonprofit more than double its capacity to serve people living with serious illness
Soquel, CA — Community Vision has provided $1.2 million in financing to Teen Kitchen Project (TKP) to support construction of a new 4,200-square-foot commercial kitchen and headquarters in Santa Cruz County.
Teen Kitchen Project prepares and delivers medically tailored meals to people living with serious illness, helping ensure that patients have access to nutritious food as part of their care. Nearly 90% of the organization’s clients are low-income and enrolled in Medi-Cal.
Working alongside professional staff and volunteers, local teens aged 14 to 18 years old help prepare nourishing meals for neighbors facing cancer and other serious illnesses. Through a culture of youth ownership and leadership, teens take on meaningful responsibilities while building practical skills, confidence, and leadership experience—and seeing firsthand the impact they can have in their community.
The new facility will significantly expand TKP’s capacity to meet growing demand. In 2025, the organization delivered more than 175,000 meals to approximately 1,000 households, with 175 teens participating as volunteers and employees. Once complete, the new kitchen will have the capacity to more than double the number of clients TKP serves.
“Access to nutritious food can be an essential part of supporting people through serious illness, and organizations like Teen Kitchen Project are an important part of California’s broader health infrastructure,” said Catherine Howard, President of Community Vision. “TKP’s model not only helps ensure that people facing serious health challenges have access to nourishing meals, but also gives young people meaningful opportunities to learn, contribute, and connect with their community. We’re proud to provide the flexible financing TKP needs to complete this facility and expand its reach across Santa Cruz County.”
TKP clients are referred by healthcare providers and receive 12 weeks of weekly meal deliveries, including seven ready-to-eat meals prepared with fresh produce, whole grains, and proteins and designed to meet specific nutritional guidelines. Clients also receive nutrition counseling from a registered dietitian. Volunteers deliver the meals, providing an additional point of connection and support for people navigating serious health challenges.
TKP also contracts with Central California Alliance for Health, which provides Medi-Cal coverage in Santa Cruz County, and receives reimbursement for meals provided to eligible Medi-Cal members.
Founded in 2012 by CEO Angela Farley after her son completed treatment for pediatric cancer, Teen Kitchen Project grew out of Farley’s experience receiving prepared meals during her family’s own health crisis. The organization has since developed a model that pairs nutrition support for people living with serious illness with hands-on experience for local teens, who work alongside professional staff to prepare meals for their neighbors.
“For over 14 years, we’ve been cooking out of rented spaces and making it work, but demand has outgrown what we can accomplish in rented space,” said Angela Farley, Founder and CEO of Teen Kitchen Project. “This new kitchen means we can say yes to more people who need nourishing meals during what may be the hardest time of their lives, and give more teens the opportunity to discover what they are capable of. Community Vision’s financing lets us continue serving at a higher capacity as soon as the building is complete and bridge the gap between pledge payments so we don’t have to make anyone wait.”
Teen Kitchen Project currently operates from separate rented kitchen, office, and storage spaces. The new facility will help reduce occupancy costs, improve operational efficiency, and allow the organization to increase the number of clients it serves without taking on additional leased kitchen space.
Community Vision’s $1.2 million bridge loan will help TKP complete construction while it receives committed capital campaign pledges and raises the remaining funds.
The investment is part of Community Vision’s broader work financing healthcare and health-related infrastructure across California. Community Vision has invested more than $87 million in healthcare and health-related facilities statewide, supporting community-rooted organizations working to expand access to care and strengthen community health.
Media Contact:
Matias Bernal, PhD
Vice President of Development
415-392-8215
mbernal@communityvisionca.org
About Community Vision:
Community Vision is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) that advances community ownership of community assets across California. Through lending, advising, and partnership, Community Vision supports nonprofits and community-rooted organizations in securing the spaces that help communities thrive and build long-term stability. Since 1987, Community Vision has invested more than $672 million in financing, leveraged over $3.4 billion, and distributed more than $39 million in grants. Community Vision is an Equal Opportunity Provider.
