The Simcoe Hall Kitchen in Oshawa is undergoing a major $100,000 renovation that will allow the long-running charitable organization to prepare more meals, improve its community programming and create new opportunities for residents to learn basic cooking and nutrition skills.
Simcoe Hall Settlement House, one of Oshawa’s oldest charitable organizations, is receiving the new kitchen through a project being led by Dreams & Wishes Children’s Charity.
The charity is overseeing both the design and construction of the renovation, while also helping secure funding, labour, materials and appliances needed to complete the work.
The project is expected to transform a dated domestic-style kitchen into a more functional space capable of supporting thousands of meals each year.
$50,000 Grant Covers Half the Project
Dreams & Wishes president JC Dougan became involved with Simcoe Hall earlier this year through support for the organization’s after-school program.
That relationship eventually grew into the larger kitchen project.
A $50,000 grant from the Coughlan Family Foundation is expected to cover approximately half of the renovation cost.
The remaining amount is being raised through a combination of cash contributions and in-kind donations of labour, materials and equipment.
Several Durham businesses have already contributed to the project, including Cosmorama, Paddy’s Market and Benchmark Electrical.
Organizers are continuing to seek financial support to cover the remaining costs.
Old Kitchen Produced About 13,000 Meals a Year
The renovation is especially significant because the existing kitchen was already being used heavily.
According to Simcoe Hall, the old kitchen produced approximately 13,000 meals per year through its after-school, seniors and “dinner for one” programs.
Despite that output, the space had several limitations.
Counter space was limited, appliances were aging and the kitchen had a largely residential setup rather than the equipment and layout of a professional food-service space.
Simcoe Hall representative Margo Smith said the organization’s chef was producing thousands of meals annually with equipment that included a partially functioning stove.
The new Simcoe Hall Kitchen is intended to make that work more efficient and allow staff to expand the number and variety of meals they can prepare.
Renovation Includes New Equipment and Seating
The revamped kitchen will feature:
- new countertops
- updated appliances
- new cabinetry
- new flooring
- additional seating space
- improved food preparation areas
- a dedicated learning island
The changes are expected to reduce cleanup time and improve workflow while also expanding the range of meals that can be prepared.
The additional space and new equipment should also make it easier for staff and volunteers to serve the food bank’s broader community programs.
Kitchen Will Become an Educational Space
One of the biggest changes is that the kitchen will no longer be used only for preparing meals.
A secondary island will be dedicated specifically to learners.
Simcoe Hall plans to use the space to teach program participants how to prepare nutritious meals.
The organization also hopes to eventually offer cooking classes for food bank users and members of the wider Oshawa community.
That educational component is a major part of the project’s long-term value.
Rather than only providing prepared meals, the renovated kitchen could help participants build practical skills they can use at home.
Smith described the possibility of turning the space into a learning environment as a “dream come true.”
Simcoe Hall Has Served Oshawa Since 1935
Simcoe Hall Settlement House was established in 1935 to help new immigrants become established in Oshawa.
Today, the organization operates a food bank while also providing community services including programs for seniors and children.
Its long history makes the kitchen renovation more than a simple building upgrade.
The new facility is intended to strengthen several programs that already serve residents dealing with food insecurity and other challenges.
Renovation Expected to Finish in September
Work on the kitchen began in early August and has already significantly changed the space.
The project team is aiming to finish the renovation by Sept. 18, when the new kitchen is expected to be unveiled publicly.
A mural is also planned to recognize the businesses and individuals who contributed materials, services or funding to the project.
The completed Simcoe Hall Kitchen will give the organization greater capacity to prepare meals while adding a new educational role to its community programming.
For an Oshawa charity that already prepares thousands of meals every year, the renovation could significantly improve both the quantity and quality of services it provides.
