Queens Community House (QCH) unveiled its newly renovated kitchen at its Forest Hills Community Center on Sept. 17, marking a major public investment aimed at strengthening food services and creating opportunities for young adults entering the workforce.

The project expanded and modernized the space, adding commercial-grade cooking equipment, a new walk-in refrigerator and freezer, expanded food storage and preparation areas, dedicated food pantry storage, a new loading and storage area, energy-efficient upgrades and enhanced fire-safety systems. The kitchen footprint was also enlarged and outfitted as a flexible teaching kitchen.

Pots, pans and other cooking utensils at the QCH kitchen in Forest Hills.Photos courtesy Queens Community House

The new space is intended to help prepare the next generation of Queens residents for employment. The kitchen at the Forest Hills facility will serve as a training site for the culinary track of QCH’s Community Resources for Employment Development (CRED) program, which is funded by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.

Through CRED, participants receive hands-on workforce training, mentorship and paid internships with local businesses. It helps build professional skills, experience and connections that can lead to long-term employment. CRED participants may receive up to 24 weeks of paid training and internships alongside work-readiness, occupational training and other support.

The connection between the program and employment opportunities was highlighted during last week’s celebration, during which young adults currently enrolled in the CRED culinary program at QCH were able to tour the new kitchen.

The renovation was made possible through the support of public partners who invested in the center. During the ceremony, QCH highlighted a $1 million investment from Richards and a collective $3 million secured by state senators and assembly members.

QCH officials give a tour of the new kitchen.Photos courtesy Queens Community House

QCH leadership joined elected officials, community members and program participants to cut the ribbon last Thursday. Elected officials included Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; state senators Jessica Ramos, Leroy Comrie and Joseph Addabbo; state assembly members Andrew Hevesi and Catalina Cruz; and Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry.

Henry Yam, chief of staff to Council Member James Gennaro, attended on behalf of the council member, whose office also supports QCH and its programming.

Ben Thomases, CEO of QCH, said the center is grateful to the elected officials and government partners who recognize the importance of the center through their investments.

“When you invest in QCH, we put your money to work, and we do it as quickly and as well as we possibly can,” Thomases said. “This kitchen will nourish our neighbors, create opportunities for young people and bring generations together under one roof — something that is very much at the heart of what Queens Community House does.”

For members of QCH’s Forest Hills Older Adult Center, the reopening means a return to freshly prepared meals made on site after nearly two years of catered meal service during construction.

One of the older adult center’s participants, Frank Zhao, spoke at the ceremony on behalf of his fellow members, describing the kitchen as “the heart” of the center and celebrated the return of fresh, nutritious meals prepared on site.

Elected officials tour the facility and check out the brand new equipment.Photos courtesy Queens Community House

Thomas-Henry highlighted the kitchen’s dual role in addressing food access and creating pathways to employment. “This is a space where we can feed a family today while helping someone build the skills to provide for their family tomorrow,” she said. 

Richards, who saw the project move from an idea to a completed community resource, emphasized the importance of investing public dollars in neighborhood institutions that serve residents throughout their lives. 

He added that the new commercial kitchen will strengthen meal service, expand food pantry storage and provide a space for culinary workforce programming.

Ramos noted that the center provides a place where older adults can share a meal and build relationships while young people gain pathways toward careers. She announced during the ceremony that she had allocated $750,000 in state funding toward completing the project.

QCH also recognized Lisa Scott-McKenzie, commissioner of NYC Department for the Aging, as well as partners at Empire State Development, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and the NYC Economic Development Corporation, for helping to move the publicly funded project through completion.

“This is your space,” Thomases emphasized. “We hope this kitchen serves you well as a place where you can come and be nourished, physically and spiritually, for years to come.”