Oak Park: Building A Community At The Dinner Table
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Oak Park community leaders are looking for a way to bring the neighborhood together.
"I think Oak Park is at a turning point. And I think people are excited to see that," said Kelly Siefkin from Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.
The idea is simple: the neighborhood that eats together, stays together.
"We love Oak Park. We love meeting our neighbors," said Jason Griest, co-owner of Old Soul.
Old Soul opened their doors in the Oak Park community more than four years ago. They just started an expansion and Griest says the gather event is a way to bring something new to the community.
"We want people to be able to take and use what they learn every day," Griest said.
Communal tables will line the streets, but it won't just be about food. People will be able to watch food demonstrations to learn about cooking and services offered in their area, like the Sacramento Food Bank.
"Education is a really big part of what we do. These gather events are teaching people how to do things," Siefkin said.
A lot of people who live in Oak Park may not know the Sacramento Food Bank is right in their backyard.
"The fact that we have a quarter-acre demonstration garden right in the middle of Oak Park is exciting for people who are coming to these events," Siefkin said.
Combining cooking and gardening could also help people save money and eat healthier.
"A lot of families are used to eating processed foods or packaged foods," Siefkin said.
That's not what they'll be eating at the gather event, and – as Oak Park begins its transition into the Triangle District – the community's excitement builds
The gather event is the second Thursday of the month from 5 to 9 p.m. until October. Third Street will be closed down between 34th and Broadway during the events.
