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South Carolina Read Eat Grow: Mobile Kitchens

This guide contains resources pertaining to the SC State Library "SC Read Eat Grow" initiative, encouraging nutrition education, health literacy and food-related programming in public libraries.

The Charlie Cart and Kitchen in a Box Kits

Charlie Cart showing storage and toolsIn order to support public libraries around the state who would like to provide food literacy programs but do not have a kitchen space or materials, the State Library purchased a Charlie Cart mobile kitchen unit, a fully contained classroom kitchen that can be moved to different locations. The contents are detailed below. We also provide several Kitchen in a Box kits that contain many of the same items as the Charlie Cart, but are smaller and more transportable. The kits can be reserved through the circulating kits page or by contacting one of the SC Read Eat Grow team members. 

To see State Library staff cooking with the Charlie Cart and several of the kits, check out the SC Read Eat Grow playlist on our YouTube Channel: Read Eat Grow on YouTube

Check-Out the Mobile Kitchens

If you are interested in scheduling a demonstration for library staff with a SC State Library staff member, or if you would like to reserve the Charlie Cart or a Kitchen in a Box for your Library to demo for patrons, please contact a member of the SC Read Eat Grow team.  

Tiffany Hayes

Jennifer Jean

kits@statelibrary.sc.gov

If you would like more information on purchasing a Charlie Cart of your own, please visit: http://charliecart.org/#purchase

What's Included in the Charlie Cart?

In the Mobile Kitchen:

  • Everything you need to deliver cooking lessons in one place
  • Convection oven and induction cooktop
  • Stainless steel rinse station with grey water recovery
  • Smallwares, such as whisks, peelers and measuring utensils
  • Power and electrical system optimized for classroom use
  • One year fit-and-finish warranty

The Curriculum includes: 

  • A set of 54 lesson plans, aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core math and English Language Arts in K-5
  • Simple, seasonal recipes that support foundational cooking skills
  • Cross-disciplinary connections between food, health and the environment
  • Developed by curriculum experts, professional chefs and educators 

It is important to know that the Charlie Cart weighs over 300 pounds and needs room to maneuver. If you have small walkways and tight corners, you may want to consider using a Kitchen in a Box Kit instead.

Kitchen in a Box Kits

Charlie cart kitchen toolsThe Kitchen in a box contains common kitchen tools and appliances for a public library program. These were modeled on kits that the Culinary Literacy Center at the Philadelphia Free Library built for their branch libraries to utilize.

  • 1 Ninja Blender
    • Base
    • Mixing Bowl
    • Lid
    • Mixing blade
  • 1 Electric Griddle
  • 1 8 QT Pot (Large Pot)
    • 2 lids
  • 1 Induction Cooktop w/ 1 stainless steel pot
  • 6 stainless steel mixing bowls of various sizes
  • 7 Salad Knives
  • 3 Large Measuring Cups
  • 12 Cutting mats
  • 12 Dinner Knives
  • 24 Dinner Forks
  • 24 Dinner Spoons
  • 2 Graters
  • 9 Kitchen Utensils (Including scissors, tongs, whisk, various spatulas)
  • 1 Large Kitchen Knife
  • 2 Citrus Reamers
  • 12 Small Mixing cups
  • 3 Peelers
  • 4 Spear point knives (Peeling knifes)
  • 2 collapsible colanders
  • 1 can opener

SC State Library Information

IMLS

Many South Carolina State Library programs, resources and services are supported in whole or in part by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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