Grand Opening April 10, 2026

Norman Cross Timbers Rotary Club members partnered with Assignment Hope, Boys & Girls Club of Norman, and the Center for Children and Families to complete Zena's Kitchen. The project was funded in part through a Rotary District 5770 Grant.

Expected to be fully operational on June 1, Zena's Kitchen will provide daily meals, cooking classes, academic support, and social-emotional learning, fostering a safe and enriching environment for vulnerable middle- and high-school students. The after-school haven is expected to serve approximately 40 enrolled students daily, with outreach programs extending to 200 youth annually.

It is located in the new Boys & Girls Club facility at Reaves Park in Norman.

Realizing a Dream for Zena

L to R: Sharon Rentzel, Assignment Hope; Melissa Klink, CCFI, and Sara Kaplan, club member, check out Zena's Kitchen at the Grand Opening.

Zena's Kitchen was established in memory of the late Zena Amer who was a dedicated community volunteer and long-time member of the Norman Cross Timbers Rotary Club. It is a project of Assignment Hope, the non-profit organization founded by the late Amer. The Boys and Girls Club of Norman is a program of the Center for Children and Families.

The Rotary District 5770 grant helped the club purchase supplies, cookware, and small appliances to outfit the kitchen as final work continued.

Several club members also provided sweat equity for setting up the new community resource.

"We are thrilled to see our members actively engaged in bringing Zena's Kitchen to life," said Sara Kaplan, a member of Cross Timbers Rotary who coordinated Rotary support for the project. "This volunteer effort, coupled with the vital grant funding, is a testament to our dedication to serving the youth of Norman and is a perfect way to honor Zena."