The Mirth Project is a Columbus-based nonprofit committed to supporting low-income teens and former foster youth as they build independent, stable, and meaningful lives. One of its core programs, The Net, was created for young adults aging out of foster care—many of whom are navigating adulthood without the support systems most of us take for granted.
The Net is made up of three parts working together to create real stability. The Financial Safety Net helps cover everyday but critical needs like groceries, rent gaps, or school-related expenses—because one unexpected bill shouldn’t derail a student’s future. Life Skills Training focuses on the practical tools young adults need to live well on their own, including budgeting, employment readiness, and essential skills like cooking. The third part is a Social Enterprise, we are in the process of developing ways to employ FFY and raise money for the project.
TMP is also currently raising money to contract with a trauma informed therapist as well as a career counselor and anger management coach as well as a purchasing a van to help with the transportation issues that plague this population.
This is where partners like Seasoned Farmhouse play such an important role. Through a series of hands-on cooking classes, residents learn how to prepare meals in their own kitchens, build confidence, and develop habits that support both their health and their budget. Each class is paired with ingredients and recipes they can take home, turning a single experience into a skill they can use again and again.
Our goal is to make Columbus the model city for what happens when a teen turns 18 in foster care—and to prove that with the right support, these young adults don’t just get by, they thrive.
The Seasoned Farmhouse x The Mirth Project = A Recipe to Succeed
The Seasoned Farmhouse has created a 6-month cooking class series that invites these young adults to engage in foundational cooking skills with the help of our resident chefs. Each chef is donating their time and talents while The Farmhouse is contributing the cost of the ingredients for each class.
How You Can Help:
Please join The Seasoned Farmhouse in helping to support these youth by contributing to a Farmhouse Kitchen Kit. Each donation supplies necessary kitchen tools and equipment that the youths can use to build skills at home. Please make your donation below.
If you’d like to donate your time as a kitchen helper, please contact Rachael at rachael@theseasonedfarmhouse.com
