Teen Leader Columbia Shafer
speaking at One Hundred Sets of Hands
Lynmar Estate, September 2010

      Hi Everybody. I'm so incredibly honored Cathryn and Ceres invited me to talk to you tonight. I'm here as the voice of the teen chefs. I'm 16, and I've been cooking with Ceres since the summer of 2008 when I was 14.

      You've heard about the wonderful service Ceres provides to people dealing with life-threatening illnesses. You've heard about the clients and their appreciation for the nutritious and healing foods. But what I'm here to talk about is that Ceres is FUN.

      I love coming to the kitchen and learning to cook. I feel really good about the fact that I'm contributing to something bigger than myself, that I'm helping people in need. But I have such a good time when I'm there and I always come home in a good mood--exhausted, but glowing--I feel like I'm getting more out of the project than I'm giving. And THAT is the miracle of the Ceres vision.

      The recipes are amazing. We've cooked so many different foods, some of which I wouldn't even eat before, like eggplant and mushrooms. After smelling the mouth-watering aromas for hours, I frequently end up going home and making the dish for dinner so I can get to eat it. My favorites are the Salmon Vera Cruz, Mushroom Asparagus Quiche, Pear and Yam Soup, and Eggplant Parmesan. My mom is always delighted with these benefits of my volunteering with Ceres.

      The adult mentor chefs have shown us lots of techniques to make cooking and prep easier, and to make the food look as beautiful as it tastes. My favorite was when I learned to chiffonade herbs. And over my two years I've learned to chop a mean onion.

      But Ceres offers something even more special. Kids come to the kitchen from all different schools and backgrounds. And we don't know each others' histories. We don't have pre-conceived boxes to put each other into. Because we want to bring healing energy to the foods we prepare, the energy in the kitchen is always loving, open and centered. In that kind of environment, we accept each other and value each others' contributions. It's an amazing gift to spend time with other teenagers outside the crucible of social judgment.

      Of course, we ARE teenagers, and occasionally, on accident, the sink jet-spray hits the curve of a mixing bowl and water sprays the other dishwasher. But I swear, it's an accident.

      In short, I'm really proud that I can cook food that helps people who are fighting cancer, but I'm just as proud that I've learned how to healthily feed myself. I'm grateful to Ceres for showing me a whole other side of cooking.

      Thank you.