Charlie Cart

In 2018, Helena Food Share became one of the first food pantries in the nation to join the Charlie Cart Project through a grant from the City of Helena. Today, food education and the Charlie Cart are pillars of our nutrition initiative. The cart is an all-in-one kitchen on wheels with a full curriculum that includes classroom-tested recipes—connecting the dots between food, health, and the environment. Helena Food Share is part of the 260-program Charlie Cart network, including K-12 schools, universities, museums, hospitals, libraries, food pantries, and even farmer’s markets.

Customers, as you shop, enjoy food samples and take home recipes to recreate these delicious and healthy foods. We also invite you to share your comments.

Food demos take place each week at the Lewis Street Pantry, featuring affordable food found in the Pantry and Montana Harvest of the Month products. Fall Harvest of the Month items: September – Herbs, October – Brassicas (cabbage family), and November – Apples.

The Charlie Cart also travels to area schools with Harvest of the Month Coordinator, Kim Lloyd, from St. Peter’s Health. Kim teaches kids about food and has them help make recipes using the Harvest of the Month.

Winter Demonstrations/Samples:

Our Charlie Cart continues to travel to classrooms around the School District. Kim Lloyd, Harvest of the Month Community Coordinator at St. Peter’s Health, will share recipes and samples for healthy eating with young students. The cart will also make its way back to the Pantry for several appearances this year.

• January 4, Chef Margaret Corcoran – recipe is TBD
• January 12, Kim Dale – recipe is TBD
• January 17 – MSU intern Emma Smith will be making Lentil “Meatballs” and providing samples.
• February 13 – Jonathan Hockett is making Beet and Onion Salad
• February 14 – Chef Margaret Corcoran is making Rye Berries with Cabbage.
• March 4 – Jacqui Bartz is making a recipe with Rye Berries
• March 14 – Chef Margaret Corcoran is back with a special resipe
• Kim Lloyd from St. Peter’s Health will be sharing lessons and demos at the following schools this winter and spring.
  January 23rd-26th at Central
  January 29th – February 2nd at Kessler
  February 19th – 23rd at Jim Darcy
  February 26th – March 1st at Rossiter
  March 18th – 22nd at Warren
  April 15th – 19th at Jefferson
  April 22nd – 26th at Broadwater
  April 29th – May 3rd at Hawthorne
  May 20th – 24th at Smith
  May 27th – 31st at Bryant

View our Calendar for demo details and other events.
Spring demonstrations will be posted soon.