Canton Public Library Awarded $20,000 Federal Grant to Promote Culinary Literacy Through Year-long Program ‘Everybody Eats’

CANTON — Town Administrator Charles Doody and Library Director Andrea Capone are pleased to announce that the Canton Public Library has been awarded a federal grant to fund a new program that will promote food, culture and culinary literacy.

The federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, in the amount of $20,000, was awarded to the Canton Public Library by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Federal LSTA grants are funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The grant funding will be used by the Canton Public Library to coordinate a year-long culinary literacy initiative entitled Everybody Eats. The goal of Everybody Eats is to provide members of different communities and identities with opportunities to share their heritage and cooking methods, teach their skills and knowledge, and better understand different food, language and cultures.  

The initiative is expected to launch in October. Throughout the year, programs will include instructional cooking classes for people of all ages, events celebrating diverse traditions and experiences, classes preserving and sharing family recipes and other culinary artifacts, and more.

New materials and equipment provided by the grant will include a mobile kitchen for culinary classes and an expanded collection of print and digital library resources relating to food, cooking, gardening and culture. Partnerships with the Canton Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; the Canton Farmers Market; the Friends of the Library; the Canton Public Schools; and the residents of Canton will ensure that all programs, events and services are informed by those who are a part of each community and culture. 

“The Everybody Eats initiative will be a fun and enlightening way for community members to come together to learn about the diverse backgrounds of their neighbors through a common appreciation for food and cooking. Discovering with others the various aspects of culinary literacy will build filling, nurturing and satisfying meals and connections,” Director Capone said. “We are grateful to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and Institute of Museum and Library Services for providing us with this funding, and we look forward to launching the program later this year.” 

Additional information about the initiative and events will be shared as it becomes available on the library’s website: library.canton.ma.us.

###