Our Mission - The Jam Jar Kitchen

How Jam Jar Kitchen Supports Preserve International

At first glance, Jam Jar Kitchen and Preserve International might seem like two separate ventures, one focused on sharing seasonal recipes and cooking tips, the other working to reduce hunger and food waste in East Africa. But they're deeply connected by a shared mission: empowering people through food.

Three women sit together outside, laughing and sharing a joyful moment. One wears an apron, another leans in with a big smile, and the third, a light-skinned woman in a blue shirt, embraces her warmly. — *Elizabeth with friends at an outdoor kitchen in South Sudan.*

A Mission That Crosses Borders

Jam Jar Kitchen isn't just about good food, it's about the power of food. The power to bring people together, to nourish, to tell stories, and to spark change.

In 2019, our founder Elizabeth also co-founded Preserve International after working in South Sudan and witnessing how seasonal food waste, especially fruit like mangoes, contributed to hunger just months after harvest. Without access to proper storage or preservation tools, much of the harvest was lost, and families were left struggling.

Preserve International now partners with refugee and women-led farming groups in Uganda to teach simple, safe food preservation techniques that reduce post-harvest loss and provide year-round food security and income.

Food That Does More

Jam Jar Kitchen helps support this work in a few meaningful ways:

Proceeds that give back: A portion of all profits from the Jam Jar Kitchen go directly to support Preserve International's programs on the ground in Uganda.
Reducing food waste at home: Many Jam Jar Kitchen recipes highlight simple ways to reduce waste in your own kitchen, like cooking with seasonal ingredients and learning safe food preservation techniques. From creative ways to use overripe produce to approachable canning recipes, we believe that small changes at home can contribute to a larger, global impact.
Spreading the word: By sharing Preserve International's mission with a wider audience, Jam Jar Kitchen helps connect food lovers here with the global movement to fight food insecurity through preservation.

Smiling women wearing Preserve International aprons stand together outdoors. One woman stands at the front with her hands on a bright green Sparky Dryer, a solar-powered food dehydrator used for preserving crops.

A woman wearing a Preserve International apron holds up a clear jar filled with safely dried okra, showcasing preserved produce from training in food dehydration techniques.

Become a Friend of Preserve

When you become a monthly donor to Preserve International, you're not just supporting programs that fight hunger and food waste, you also get free access to Jam Jar Kitchen's virtual and in-person cooking classes throughout the year. It's our way of saying thank you for being part of this mission.

Thank You!

If you've ever attended a class, bought a jar of jam, or made one of our recipes, thank you. Your support is helping create a world where food isn't wasted, and families can thrive all year long.