Turning Passion into Action, Skilled Cook Empowers Young People to Make Healthy Food Choices

Kim Doyle Wille, a Colorado native, has been passionate about cooking since she was a young girl creating meals in her childhood home. Over time, she became skilled enough to be a winner of the 46th Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest in 2013. Creating a nonprofit focused on healthy food options for the students and families in Garfield County was a natural way to turn that passion into action.

The idea for Growing Empowerment came to Kim when the recession hit and she needed to call on her local Lift-Up food pantry for assistance. She was shocked to find out they were limited to boxed items full of salt, sugar and other unhealthy ingredients – and wanted to find a way for others struggling in the community to have healthier options.

Thanks to Beauty Beyond Belief Wildflower Seed, a Boulder, Colorado-based seed company, Kim was able to distribute donated seeds to local gardeners who were willing to donate a portion of their crops to Lift-Up.

As time passed, her passion for helping the community grew. She created an after-school gardening program where students could not only learn to grow fresh produce but also how to prepare healthy, fresh meals for their families.

Read the full story on the Points of Light blog.