Charlie Cart

Nutrition Education

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. Harvest of the Month items: Jan – Winter Squash, Feb – Beets, Mar – Grains, Apr – Beef/Bison, May – Chickpeas/Lentils, June – Leafy Greens, July – Summer Squash, Aug – Herbs, Sep – Brassicas, Oct – Apples, Nov – Potatoes, and Dec – Carrots

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. A mom recently emailed: “My son is a second-grade student at Jim Darcy. He came home the other day and excitedly told us he got to make the yummiest nachos at the Charlie Cart! I would LOVE the recipe of what you used if you wouldn’t mind sharing. He is a picky eater so when he told me the beans were tasty I was surprised!” The Lentil Nachos recipe can be found here.

2025-26 Demonstrations:

The Charlie Cart is at home in the Market and will be serving up all kinds of good recipes from staff and local chefs. It will also continue its travels to classrooms around the School District. Kim Lloyd, Harvest of the Month Community Coordinator at St. Peter’s Health, will share recipes, involve students in food prep and provide samples for healthy eating with young students. The cart will also make its way back to the Market for several appearances this year.

• Demonstrations in the Grocery Share Market:
  • July 22: Cauliflower
  • August 12: Herbs
  • Oct 16: Butternut Squash
  • Oct 28: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Meat
• 2025/2026 School Demonstrations: Kim Lloyd from St. Peter’s Health will be sharing lessons and demos at the following elementary schools this year:
  • Jim Darcy: October 20-24
  • Central: October 27-31
  • Rossiter: February 23-27
  • Kessler: March 23-27
  • Jefferson: April 27-May 1
  • Warren: May 4-8
  • Bryant: May 18-22
  • Smith: May 26-29

View our Calendar for demo details and other events.