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The City of Peekskill has announced a new collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital and Feeding Westchester to launch “Cooking for Health,” a community cooking collaborative for seniors. The program began on April 24 and is held at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen.

“Cooking for Health” focuses on how seniors can support their health through good nutrition and hands-on cooking. Participants, all members of the City of Peekskill Senior Nutrition Program, a nutritionally at-risk population, will learn how to maximize a limited food budget.

The program is led by Chef Johnathan Zamora, Senior Services Site Manager for the City of Peekskill’s Senior Nutrition Program; Chef Emilie Berner, Chef and Coordinator of NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen; and Jodie Ferrari, R.D., Clinical Nutrition Manager at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital.

“Providing meaningful services like this to the vulnerable senior population is essential for our community’s well-being and overall health,” said Chef Zamora. “What makes our program innovative is the City’s working relationships with NewYork-Presbyterian and Feeding Westchester. We’ve leveraged the collaborative strength of complementary organizations in a cross-functional way to develop a meaningful, realistic curriculum for the senior participants.”

“Cooking for Health” will run continually with each rotation comprised of five weekly classes. There is no cost to the participants in the program.

“NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital is pleased to be a part of this important community initiative with the City of Peekskill and Feeding Westchester and is committed to working collaboratively with community groups to positively impact overall health in the Hudson Valley,” said Angela Gonzalez-Perez, MPA, Vice President of Operations at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital. “The health and well-being of the residents in our community is of utmost importance to us and we look forward to finding new ways to reach at-risk populations while continuing to provide high quality care to our patients.”

Feeding Westchester, which leads hunger action programs throughout Westchester County, has opened its food inventory to the City for the cooking class program as the enrollees’ incomes make them eligible for food assistance.

Each “Cooking for Health” rotation is limited to 12 participants. Transportation to and from the teaching kitchen originating from the Peekskill Senior Center is provided by the City of Peekskill. For more information or to register, contact Chef Johnathan Zamora at 914-734-4250 ext. 2 or [email protected].

The City of Peekskill’s Senior Nutrition Program provides a fresh hot lunch Mondays through Fridays with transportation both to and from the Senior Center. Those over the age of 60 who identify as medically homebound can qualify for meal delivery service upon completion of a home assessment.

The City of Peekskill’s Senior Center is located at 4 Nelson Ave. in Peekskill, N.Y. and can be reached at 914-734-4250 or by visiting www.cityofpeekskill.com.

For more information on the NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen, please click here.

Chef Emilie Berner demonstrates a healthy recipe for members of the City of Peekskill’s Senior Nutrition Program. The new “Cooking for Health” program is held on Tuesday mornings at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen.

Members of the City of Peekskill’s Senior Nutrition Program try their hand at creating a health- supportive meal as part of the “Cooking for Health” program held at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen.

Members of the City of Peekskill’s Senior Nutrition Program sample their healthy creations as part of the “Cooking for Health” program held at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen.

About the City of Peekskill

The City of Peekskill is a thriving, historic community located on the banks of the Hudson River. Just under one hour north of New York City, Peekskill is culturally and economically vibrant with abundant natural resources due to its location on the river and at the gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The City’s pedestrian-friendly downtown is buzzing with an array of dining and entertainment establishments. Offering artist lofts, studios, galleries and museums, Peekskill is home to a growing arts community and has no shortage of arts activities. The waterfront, with over three miles of continuous parkland, is a regional destination with a variety of active and passive recreation, as well as breathtaking views of the Hudson River. For more information, visit www.cityofpeekskill.com.

About NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital

Founded in 1889 by the Helping Hand Association, NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, located in Cortlandt Manor, New York, serves residents of the Hudson Valley and Westchester County. The 128-bed facility provides a wide range of inpatient and ambulatory services, with 508 practitioners on staff in 62 specialties. The hospital is home to the region’s only state-of-the-art, 24-hour "no wait" emergency department, which sees more than 40,000 visits per year. In 2011, the Cheryl R. Lindenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center opened, offering the first comprehensive cancer center in the area, combining infusion, radiation therapy and support services all under one roof. NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital has received a string of national awards for patient and employee satisfaction as well as clinical excellence, and received national recognition for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program® three consecutive times. For more information, visit nyp.org/hudsonvalley or call 914-737-9000.

Press Contacts:
City of Peekskill
Kelly Lee
Co-Communications
914-666-0066
[email protected]