We had a whirlwind of a Summer and we are looking forward to slowing down a little bit and hibernating into the cold weather.
After our cry for community support we made last Spring (which you read about in the last newsletter, here), we had a few more conversations with local potential partners. Two of which I would like to highlight today.
First, we heard from Kasindra Stewart at the Diversion & Rehabilitation Treatment Program at the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office. Kasi heads an initiative to help first time offenders get rehabilitated and turn their lives around, in hopes of preventing recidivism. She and I met to discuss some of the similarities between our Recovery with a Purpose program and the DART program, and through our conversations came a fortuitous partnership, whereby, the Prosecutor’s Office donated a generous $10,000 toward our program, allowing us to continue the program throughout the Summer months.
Secondly, we met with Danny Breneman and his team at Job & Family Services. My conversation with them was about the challenge I had been hearing from our trainees that their rent at Naomi house had increased and our pay had not. Our trainees historically have worked a maximum of 10 hours per week, in order to keep the program fiscally fit from our perspective. This was based originally on the idea that full time work is challenging at this stage of healing due to the meetings, counselor appointments, and doctor’s appointments required of an individual in early recovery. JFS and Foodworks ended our conversation with a plan to achieve funding for an additional 6 hours per week, funded through them. This still allows the trainee to have several days per week to achieve their responsibilities, but gives them approximately $100 more per month to pay toward their rent. We have just started our first trainee on this program and we are excited to see how it works.
In order for any of this to work, however, we continue to need support from our community.
The 8th Annual Taste of Muskingum was a generous outpouring of support (you’ll see photos and proof below!), and the funds raised will help us keep this and the rest of Foodworks Alliance alive and well for another quarter, but we still will always need support from our Friends.
It takes approximately $7,000 to take one woman through the 12 core weeks of the RWAP Program plus a few weeks.
Your Impact:
Your generous contribution, no matter the size, will directly ensure that our dedicated team can continue their invaluable work. By supporting our payroll for the next two months, you will:
Provide stability for the Recovery with a Purpose program and the women who rely on it.
Ensure continuity of mentorship and training, critical for successful recovery and workforce reintegration.
Empower women to rebuild their lives, gain financial independence, and contribute to their communities.
Invest in a proven model that fosters lasting recovery and positive social impact.
Every dollar makes a difference. Please consider making a donation today and becoming a vital partner in empowering these women to achieve lasting recovery and purpose.
As always, thanks for being a Friend of Foodworks, and we wish you the happiest of holiday seasons!
-Amy F. Aurore
New Client Spotlight: Balila Products!
Welcome Balila Products to the FoodWorks Alliance Kitchen! We’re thrilled to officially welcome Balila Products to the FoodWorks Alliance family! Their irresistible hummus, fluffy pita, and decadent stuffed dates have already won hearts and sparked conversations.
Handcrafted with bold flavors and fresh ingredients, every bite from Balila brings pure comfort and culinary joy. Whether you're savoring smooth hummus or indulging in a stuffed date, their creations are a celebration of taste.
Be sure to follow Balila Products on their facebook page and help us give them a warm FoodWorks welcome!
This equipment is already making a big difference. Bre from Fit Meal Prep is now able to prep meals more efficiently, reduce waste, and grow her business with greater confidence.
Thank you for investing in our mission and helping strengthen Muskingum County’s local food economy.
Celebrating a Successful Food Preservation Workshop
FoodWorks Alliance was thrilled to host our August 7th Food Preservation Workshop, featuring expert instruction from Emily Marrison and Alexus Masterson of OSU Extension Coshocton County. Held last evening, the event offered hands-on guidance in safe canning, proper storage, and reducing food waste—empowering attendees with practical skills for preserving seasonal produce.
We’re grateful to Emily and Alexus for sharing their knowledge and to our participants for making the evening a success. These workshops are part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening local food systems and building community resilience.
Keep an eye out for upcoming events—we’d love to see you there!
We’re excited to announce the 2026 in-person ServSafe Food Manager Course & Exam dates! Registration is now open for the following sessions:
March 3–4
June 16–17
October 6–7
Held at 2725 Pinkerton Lane, Zanesville, Ohio, this two-day course includes expert-led instruction on Day 1, followed by a review and certification exam on Day 2. The course fee is $200 for digital exams and $250 for paper exams, with lunch included both days, with both days from 9am-5pm.
7th Annual Taste of Muskingum – A Culinary Celebration for a Cause!
This unforgettable evening brought together the region’s most talented chefs and restaurants to compete for the coveted title of Top Chef of Muskingum County. DJ Adonis of Grande Finale Entertainment set the mood as guests gathered at the beautiful Weatherington Woods and enjoyed drinks served by Patty's Mobile Bar Co. Followed by a tasting tour of each chef’s dish, then cast their vote to crown this year’s winner. It was a delicious way to support local talent and savor the best our community has to offer.
Your participation also helps improve the capacity of our food related small business incubator and continue our Recovery With a Purpose training program, which provides paid culinary training for women in recovery—helping them build skills, confidence, and a fresh start.
It truly takes a village- thank you for celebrating the power of food and how it brings people together and transforms lives.
Recovery With a Purpose Update
Kitchen Manager Roselyn (left), and Production Assistant Diane
As fall closed in a steady rhythm settled into the FoodWorks Alliance kitchen—marked by the scent of fresh apples, the golden glow of pie crusts, and the quiet joy of purposeful work.
Our Kitchen Manager Roselyn planted a spice garden and began testing herb drying techniques for an upcoming project—adding fresh flavor and innovation to our kitchen operations. Alongside our newest trainee, Dianne, Roz also led efforts to roast squash, beets, cabbage and potatoes, process apples, and maintain a clean, efficient space for our clients.
Together, in September alone they processed and delivered over 1,000 servings of prepared food to those facing hunger in our community.
Meet Dianne:
Dianne is one of our recent trainees in the Recovery With a purpose training program. Motivated and hardworking, she came in at 55 years young, and this proud mom of 4 and grandma of 2 girls (with a grandson on the way!) rediscovered her love for cooking and baking—and we couldn’t be more excited to have had her in the kitchen.
Her Hobbies? She loves nature, crafts, family time, and her recovery journey.
Her favorite dish made in the kitchen? Guacamole! And she learned a pro tip: keep the avocado pit in the container to help it stay fresh longer.
Her goal? To get back into food prep and the work field—and she’s shining! Dianne shared that getting back into food prep feels amazing, and she’s thrilled to rediscover the joy of working with food now that her kids are grown.
As she approached 8 weeks with us she acquired not one but 2 positions, and then ended up taking a third job offer! While food safety was already familiar to her, she truly needed the pace of what we do as she worked on herself and her recovery. We’re honored to be part of her journey and can’t wait to see what she creates next.
Welcoming Tarah
We’re excited to introduce Tarah, our newest Production Assistant in the Recovery With a Purpose training program. Tarah brings a joyful energy, a deep love for her family (including 40+ nieces and nephews!), and a passion for food that’s already making a difference.
Her favorite project so far? Hot pepper jelly—a spicy-sweet creation that was a brand-new experience for her.
Tarah is committed to preparing meals for those in need while working toward her peer support certification. Her journey is a powerful example of how recovery, skill-building, and community care come together at FoodWorks Alliance.
We’re proud to support Tarah and grateful for the warmth and creativity she brings to our kitchen and our mission.
Christ’s Table Cookie Project
In early October Christ’s Table received a donation of industrial-sized cookie and brownie mixes and asked if we could bake them—we said yes! Thanks to an amazing supporter who donated the eggs and butter, we kicked things off with over 300 Chocolate-Chocolate Chip cookies baked and packaged to their specs.
Huge thanks to our Kitchen Manager, Roselyn, and Tarah for their hard work and care. This project is warming our hearts and kitchen. Many more cookies (along with brownies) coming soon!
If you would like to donate to our nonprofit to expand our kitchen capabilities or help us continue the Recovery With a Purpose training program Click the button below.
March- June 2025 From the Desk of our Director Happy Summer Foodworks Friends! Summer has really kicked off with a HEAT WAVE of epic proportions but inside the walls of Foodworks Alliance the temperature controlled warehouse is nice and cool (for our clients to store their precious ingredients). Today, I want to spend my director’s note with a very important message. This Spring, Foodworks Alliance went through some challenging financial times. As we were celebrating our 10 year anniversary,...
☀️ Get ready for a fantastic day in the sunshine at the 3rd Annual Picklefest Presented by Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union! ☀️ We’d love for you to bring the whole family and join us for a morning filled with exciting pickleball matches, delicious food, and community fun—all while supporting a great cause! 📅 Date: July 26, 2025 ⏰ Time: 8 AM - 11 AM 📍 Location: Riverside Park, Zanesville, OH. 43701 🏓 Pickleball Tournament – Whether you’re competing or cheering, it’s a guaranteed good time!...
We Need Your Help! Hey All! This email is coming straight from Amy (the director) today. I've never used this newsletter channel to send out a request for support, but there's a first time for everything, and if there's anything I have learned in this almost three year time of doing this job, is that I am consistently having the opportunity to do things that are outside of my box. I'm excited to share that Foodworks Alliance recently celebrated our 10th Anniversary with a wonderful Open House...
