“Cooking for Athens: Seasoned with Love” brings community together to share meals and fight food insecurity

Community members, students, and local organizations will come together April 18–19 for “Cooking for Athens: Seasoned with Love,” a two-day event combining hands-on food preparation, student learning and a community meal aimed at supporting residents experiencing food insecurity in Athens County.

“This event is about more than food—it’s about dignity, care and creating spaces where people feel seen, valued and nourished,” Janice Marie Collins, Ph.D., an associate professor and director of the Institute for International Journalism in the Scripps College of Communication said. “We are literally and figuratively feeding our community with nourishment and Seasoned with Love.” 

Cooking will begin at 10:30 a.m. on April 18 in the Patton Hall Demonstration Kitchen, where students and faculty will prepare meals alongside Collins, who is an award-winning educator, journalist, and host of the show “Seasoned with Love,” Professor Thom Stevenson and student chefs. The prepared food will then be distributed throughout Athens and surrounding areas, with a community meal open to all scheduled for April 19 at 3 p.m. at Tony’s Tavern.

A special episode of “Seasoned with Love” will also be filmed during the event, highlighting student involvement and behind-the-scenes preparation, as well as the collective spirit of giving that defines the initiative. The episode will focus on storytelling, community impact and the importance of using one’s gifts to serve others, and will be co-hosted by E.W. Scripps School of Journalism senior Audrey Eary.

“Being part of this experience is incredibly meaningful,” said Eary. “It’s an opportunity to give back, learn, and connect with the community in a way that truly makes a difference.”

This collaboration highlights experiential learning, student engagement and service-driven education that brings care and support back into the community.

The initiative also invites donations of food, supplies and financial support, which will directly fund meal preparation and expand outreach. Local partners, including Bob Evans, have already contributed items in support of the effort.

Food insecurity in Athens County and Appalachia
Athens County faces one of the highest food insecurity rates in Ohio, with about 20% of residents, roughly 11,000 people, lacking consistent access to food. Among them are approximately 1,800 children. Across the Appalachian region, food insecurity rates typically range from 15% to 17%, already above the national average of about 14%, placing Athens County well above both benchmarks. With rising food prices and loss of jobs, the problem is only getting worse. The challenge is closely tied to persistent poverty, geographic barriers and limited access to resources. More than 25% of residents live below the poverty line, and many families rely on SNAP benefits, which have faced recent funding cuts.

“Food Insecurity is not only a community problem, but also a nation and world problem because this deprivation can affect cognitive development, educational outcomes and health disparities,” Collins added. “I believe and practice that we are our sister’s and brother’s keeper and I love and support people and humanitarian efforts, I must do something to help - and the great people of Athens, my friends, colleagues and students are eager to join in. I couldn’t be happier or prouder of Athens.” 

The Origins of Seasoned with Love

Cooking for others and serving those facing food insecurity began early in Collins’ life. After seeing a Sally Struthers PSA encouraging Americans to support Feed the Children, Collins launched her own “starvation campaign” at just five years old, refusing to eat until her parents helped children in need. And they did, donating money and fostering children around the world.

“I was extremely blessed to have the parents and family that allowed me to be dramatic, sensitive and feeling with a purpose…and who also wanted me to start eating again,” Collins said.

Years later, after winning the first of many Emmy Awards, Collins left her role as a top-ten broadcast journalist in Atlanta to care for her mother full-time.

“Cooking is a part of my love language and all the women in my family were great cooks, including my mother, who made every meal from scratch. So, it was a real blessing for me to turn around and then cook for her and my father.” 

That care soon extended beyond her family, with Collins explaining that she would bring meals with her to her mother’s various appointments and feed the people who were unable to go out for lunch and that soon they would ask for her to cook for not only them but their relatives and friends as well who were shut in and could use a good meal. 

Those moments sparked “Seasoned with Love,” which has since grown across communities, states and even continents. Today, community members, businesses and organizations are encouraged to support the effort through food, supplies or financial donations, helping expand its reach and impact.