501(c)(3) Public Charity
A Dash of Kindness
Teaching Confidence Through Food
We teach children to prepare affordable, nutritious meals — building life skills, self-reliance, and community one kitchen at a time.
“Every family deserves to eat well. Every child deserves to know how to cook.”
What We Do
More Than Cooking Classes
A Dash of Kindness is a life-skills organization. Cooking is simply the teaching tool.
Culinary Skills
Children learn to prepare real, nutritious meals using simple pantry staples — gaining skills that last a lifetime.
Confidence & Resilience
Cooking is the vehicle. The real goal is building "I can do this" confidence that carries into every area of life.
Stronger Families
When children cook, families gather. We strengthen family bonds through shared meals and shared purpose.
Our Mission
Making the Most of What You Already Have
Many families already have enough to prepare healthy, delicious meals. The challenge isn't the ingredients — it's the knowledge and confidence to use them.
We teach children and families that affordable ingredients like beans, rice, frozen vegetables, and pantry staples can become nourishing meals. No expensive groceries required.
Our Full StoryWe Teach Families to:
- ✓Cook nutritious meals from scratch
- ✓Stretch a food budget without sacrificing quality
- ✓Plan meals and reduce food waste
- ✓Build lifelong healthy eating habits
- ✓Feel confident and capable in the kitchen
- ✓Turn simple ingredients into something great
Our Flagship Program
The HEARD Program
HEARD is our signature educational framework — a structured journey that guides children from beginner cooking skills all the way through nutrition, budgeting, kitchen leadership, and beyond.
HEARD is built around practical curriculum areas that can be combined into focused sessions based on the needs of each group and host organization. It's not just about cooking — it's about becoming someone who knows they can figure it out.
Explore the Program
Our Founder
Meet Chef Alex De Freitas
Founder
Chef, mother, educator — and the heart behind A Dash of Kindness. Chef Alex's lifelong connection to food began during her childhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where cooking became a way to care for her family with whatever they had.
That same belief — that anyone can make something good with what they already have — is why she founded A Dash of Kindness: to give children the knowledge and confidence to cook for themselves, their families, and their futures.
Meet Chef AlexOur Work
Building HEARD for the Community
A Dash of Kindness recently earned recognition as a federally recognized 501(c)(3) public charity, and we are now focused on developing the HEARD Program and preparing to bring it to schools and community organizations. Follow our progress as we build toward launch.
See Our Work & UpdatesBuilt for Every Family
Our programs are free and open to all. We focus especially on families and children who can benefit most from practical, life-changing skills.
Who We Serve
Community Settings
Get Involved
Ways to Help
There are many ways to be part of A Dash of Kindness. Whether you give your time, help us build community connections, or make a financial contribution, every form of support helps move our mission forward.
Volunteer
Share your time, skills, and experience to help support programs, events, education, and community outreach.
Explore Volunteer OpportunitiesPartner With Us
We welcome connections with schools, community organizations, businesses, and others who share our interest in helping children build practical skills for healthier lives.
Connect With UsDonate
Your financial support helps provide ingredients, educational materials, food-safety resources, cooking supplies, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Donate NowA Little Kindness Goes a Long Way.
Whether you volunteer, donate, or share our mission — you help a child discover what they're capable of.
Follow the Kindness
Stay Connected With A Dash of Kindness
Follow along for program updates, community news, volunteer opportunities, behind-the-scenes moments, and ways to support our mission.
Stay Connected
Stay Connected to the Kindness
Get updates about programs, community events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to support our mission.