Help The Pantry expand

Great news. The Pantry cooking school in Ballard is increasing its square footage, which means more fabulous cooking classes, food swaps, potluck dinners and special culinary events.

But, in order to break ground this fall, the staff needs to raise $60,000 and is asking for community donations throughout the month of July. By pre-paying for classes you plan to take in the future (or give to family and friends as gifts), you’ll help the talented team of chefs offset construction costs.

To sweeten the deal, they’re offering incentives. For gift certificate purchases up to $250, The Pantry will gift recipes, either as a surprise from their list of favorites, or from recipes you choose from classes or dinners you missed.​ Yes, the Russian dumpling-making class you never got into, for instance.

As the gift certificate purchase amounts increase (up to $2,500 – that’s your Christmas and Hanukkah lists combined plus 2016’s birthdays), you will receive an additional bonus: pre-registration status to use gift certificates to sign up for classes ahead of the release-day rush. The larger the gift certificate purchase, the more seasons of pre-registration you’ll receive as a thank you.

At presstime, about 48 hours after they put out the call, The Pantry had reached $28,000. Get yours before they’re gone.

For more information, visit the school’s Fundraiser page.