The Spectrum Kitchen has its debut with the Xi Omicron sorority group's pie bake fundraiser

Standing in the freezer with the 268 pecan pies that were made Monday are (L-R) Sara Hotvedt, Londa Grinna, Laura Kirchner, Dominique Bockman, and Jacky Budweg

The Spectrum Kitchen is being used for the first time this week as the sorority group Xi Omicron is baking 595 pecan and pumpkin pies, just in time for Thanksgiving.  The pies were baked Monday and Tuesday and will be picked up on Wednesday.
 
The annual pie bake fundraiser is a benefit for the Justin and Karla Lechtenberg family. Their son Lewis, who will turn 2 in December, was diagnosed with a rare, cancerous brain tumor located at the base of his brain, near the spinal cord. The tumor was removed this summer at Mayo Clinic Health System. Lewis will have follow up treatments and will be monitored for years.

The Spectrum Kitchen is a licensed processing center with the state of Iowa. According to The Spectrum Network Executive Director Beverly Fredrick, "The focus is to integrate individuals with disabilities into the work force. We will be working with the Oneota Community Food Co-op as an outsource for their dry bulk goods. We will package their dry goods, including candy, sesame seeds, nuts, etc. They will deliver the product to us and we will process it within a week."

Fredrick is working on marketing the kitchen space, reaching out to businesses.  They have arrangements with NICC's culinary program to use the kitchen space and are currently looking at other businesses.

Just off the kitchen is a 20 x 40 room with tables and chairs that will be available to rent for baby showers, receptions or other events. "This is a great asset to Decorah and I'd especially like to thank the Habitat for Humanity volunteers who put in a lot of hours helping to get the building ready," added Fredrick.

The new building for The Spectrum Kitchen is 40 x 128

The large kitchen has plenty of room for food prep

Sara Hotvedt and Dominique Bockman prepare the filling for pumpkin pies

Dominique Bockman checks on the pies baking in the convection ovens