Donors step up for YWCA Rock County kitchen remodeling project

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

A trio SCWBA volunteers begin the process of rebuilding the kitchen at the YWCA domestic violence shelter. Volunteers from the association and other groups had removed the existing kitchen in less than an hour. The entire project is scheduled to be finished this week.

JANESVILLE Cooking at the YWCA Rock Countys domestic violence shelter made Lindsay Franklin realize how much she loves to bake.

The 26-year-old single mom of two spent a lot of time in the kitchen while staying at the shelter, teaching other mothers how to cook.

It helped her realize her dream.

If not for the YWCAs kitchen, I probably would have never started my own cheesecake business. Its a small business, but it makes me happy and lets me be at home with my boys, Franklin said.

Nearly 350,000 meals have been been prepared in the kitchen for thousands of women and their children who have sought safe shelter in the facility since 2001. It is part of the YWCAs community services center at 1735 S. Washington St.

But the years of daily use were beginning to show on the kitchen cupboards, countertops, flooring and appliances.

A year ago, YWCA staff and board members decided to raise money to remodel the kitchen. The first fundraiser was the 2011 Chefs for a Cause event.

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Donors step up for YWCA Rock County kitchen remodeling project