LOUISVILLE, Ky — Volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana (RMHCK) have a new way to give back. The facility now offers its volunteers a chance to work alongside its new chef and cook meals for the families staying there. 

The Ronald McDonald House gives families of sick children a place they can stay during treatment. Volunteers donate $300 to make this happen, and that money pays for the ingredients.

“Together we’ll prep, I’ll plan the menu, I’ll get the groceries,” Chef James Garst said.

Garst came on as the head chef just two months ago, but brings with him 14 years of experience in the food industry. 

A similar program has existed for several years where volunteers were in charge of planning and purchasing the food, Garst said. This fresh approach, called “Meals From the Heart,” makes things simpler. Both options are available. 

“We wanted to add an option for people and businesses that might not have the time to go procure their own ingredients, plan a menu, think about cooking,” Garst said. “It’s hard to cook for 60 people if you don’t do it all the time.”

Key aspects of the special menus include using fresh produce, healthy ingredients and cutting down on food waste—all things Chef Garst is passionate about implementing in all the cooking he does.

“We live in a world where food deserts exist and people don’t have the same access to foods. And really utilizing that you have in your own house or in a kitchen setting or anything like that is a good way to have the production that we have,” Garst said. 

Volunteers can reserve a time slot here. Leadership with RMHC says for the rest of June, they’ve dropped the price to $200. The price for times in July will cost $250.