September 27, 2007 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or Winner of Two |
Lafayette Hill psychologist is happy to ‘Cook for You’
No time to cook? That’s the headline entrepreneur Angela Walden has placed in ads for her fledgling business called “Cooks For You.” Walden, 43, a longtime Germantown resident and one-month Lafayette Hill resident, knows about not having time to cook. She and her husband, John, have four children, ranging in age from 3 to 14. With a Masters in Psychology and 14 years in the social services field, she often found that the last thing she wanted to do after coming home from a full day of work was cook. Her most recent position at the Wissahickon Charter School did give her some after-school time, though, to play in the kitchen while her children were busy doing homework at the kitchen table. “I enjoyed being able to cook a meal for my family and create something in the kitchen,” she said in her white kitchen on a sunny afternoon. With the move to a new school district and the adjustment for the whole family, she decided not to go back to the traditional work force this September and is focusing on her new small business. Walden talked to other working parents and concluded that there is a real need for her service. “I don’t necessarily want to go into someone’s home to cook,” she explained. “I need to do that here. But I want to serve as a clearinghouse for people who like to cook and individuals who would cherish walking through the front door to spend quality time with their family while a healthy meal was being prepared for them.” In her past position as a school counselor/parent outreach coordinator, Walden saw the demands of two working parents first-hand. “Let’s face it, I’m a people person,” she said with a wide smile. “I have talked to countless individuals who have said that they would pay for this kind of service. Some people are just too busy, and some just don’t like to cook. “ Walden is still trying to finalize pricing, but thinks it is not out of bounds to charge $80 to have someone come into the home and cook for a family of four. The meal would consist of four components. “If you go out to a restaurant, that is about what you are paying. With this service, you have a nice quiet atmosphere, no cranky, hungry kids waiting for the food, and you can time the entire service to your liking.” Because of her background in working with children, she will also get all of her cooks to go through a Pennsylvania State Police criminal check and get child abuse clearance. “Cooks To You” can also cook for an elderly person or couple, or for someone who has undergone surgery or has a disabling medical condition. Warden believes her background in social services will help her match the right cook with the right situation. “There is a certain amount of psychology in knowing how to figure out the right ‘fit’ for a client and cook. My whole background has depended upon bringing the right people and services together.” Warden has a separate building on her property with a full bathroom and shower. She is turning it into a home office where she can interview prospective cooks and have a quiet place away from the family. She is targeting the Chestnut Hill and Lafayette Hill areas initially, but hopes to expand into other markets. Husband John, who is a client advisor at BMW of the Main Line, is very supportive of his wife’s new business. “I think it’s a nice thing she is doing,” he said. “Helping extra busy people spend some quality time with their families and giving work to individuals who enjoy cooking. She’s making people happier when they come home at night and realize that their work for the day is done. They can sit back and relax and be pampered a bit.” To reach Angela Warden, you can call 215-439-4005 or e-mail her at angelawalden3@aol.com. Barbara Sherf can be reached at www.communicationspro.com.
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