How to Help

Give Today.
Change Tomorrow.

Your donation funds culinary training, fine arts enrichment, mentorship, and real-world employment for people inside Cook County Jail and beyond. Monthly giving keeps our programs running, week after week.

$25/month — Feeds a student for a week with fresh, quality ingredients

$50/month — Covers instruction and supplies for one student

$100/month — Funds a student's ServSafe certification

$200/month — Supports one month of culinary instruction

$1000/month — Sponsors a full training cohort

One-Time Gifts — are also welcome and deeply appreciated.

Donate for Change

Double Your Impact with
Company Matching

Many employers match their employees' charitable donations — sometimes dollar for dollar, or even two to one. That means your gift to Recipe for Change could automatically be worth twice as much, at no extra cost to you.

Check with your HR department or employee benefits portal to see if your company offers a matching gift program. Once confirmed, simply submit a matching gift request and we'll take care of the rest.

Sponsor the Truck

Fuel the Mission. Feed the Future. Every sponsorship directly funds paid employment for RFC alumni. Choose the level that fits your impact goals.

Sponsor a Shift

Cover the cost of one full Food Truck shift — wages, ingredients, and operations. Your company name is featured at the event and in our monthly newsletter.

Sponsor a Cohort

Fund an entire cohort of RFC alumni working together across a series of events. Includes prominent recognition on the truck, social media, and our annual impact report.

Have something bigger in mind? We'll build a sponsorship package around your goals — whether that's a long-term partnership, a branded event, or something we haven't thought of yet.

Share Your Time and Expertise

Our volunteers and mentors play a vital role in the RFC community. Whether you have culinary experience, business skills, creative talent, or simply a willingness to show up — there's a place for you.

What Mentors Do:

Support students during and after their time in the program.
Share professional guidance and life experience.
Help with reentry planning, job readiness, and confidence building.

What Volunteers Do:

Assist with Food Truck events and pop-ups.
Support content creation, photography, and storytelling.
Help with administrative tasks, event coordination, and outreach.

Apply to Volunteer or Mentor

Hire Our
Graduates

Our culinary graduates come with ServSafe certification, hands-on kitchen experience, and the discipline that comes from completing an intensive program. They're ready for entry-level positions in restaurants, hotels, catering, food service, and beyond.