On behalf of Higher Is Waiting Nonprofit Organization and every teen who attended EMPOWERED: Leadership & Career Exploration Day, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to Shemecka McNeil for going above and beyond in pouring into our youth.
She didn’t just provide food—she created an experience.
Shemecka thoughtfully took the time to share her personal journey, including the education and training that led her into the culinary arts, inspiring teens who dream of pursuing similar paths. She didn’t just cook for them—she taught with them.
She brought the lesson to life by having our youth guess the dishes before eating, encouraging them to think critically about what they were tasting. She challenged them to identify ingredients and discuss flavor profiles, making the experience both fun and educational. Through her creativity and passion, she showed our teens that healthy eating can be both flavorful and accessible.
Her ability to connect through food, storytelling, and education created a moment that many of our youth will never forget. She made it clear that leadership isn’t just about position—it’s about sharing what you know to help someone else grow.
Thank you, Shemecka, for feeding both their bodies and their minds. Your presence made a lasting impact, and we are so honored to have had you as part of this experience.
— Jayden Watkins,
Executive Director of Higher Is Waiting Nonprofit Organization
My name is Merald Holloway with NC 100. We have worked with Slice 325 in the past and got another opportunity to engage with her at a community event in October. Shemecka and her work with Slice 325 are so transformational. Our Rockingham County residents got to engage with her at our community event dedicated active living, healthy community nutrition and food systems education. Her program not only exposes folks and encourages folks access to healthy food but also empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to make sustainable choices. She provided vital resources to our underserved populations while cultivating a culture of wellness and food equity. Their work is truly inspiring and essential for building a healthier, more resilient future. I estimate she connected with over 125 people in our emerging rural town!
We can't thank Shamecka enough for her dedication to providing cooking workshops at Warren County Memorial Library in Warren, NC. Her heart healthy series has provided all of us with helpful tips and ways to alter eating habits in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle. She is phenomenal!
I really enjoy class ‼️ i have learned a lot along the way it's a wonderful experience I look forward to getting to class
I wasn't familiar with this program until our local library offered two sessions on Cooking and Cancer. I attended both, learned a lot of significant a applicable information, and got to enjoy great food in the process! Thank you, Chef Shemecka!
Slice 325 is such an impressive and impactful organization in the community. I truly admire the care that they have for their community and their ability to teach people of all backgrounds how to diversify their diets. They take on the challenge of making healthy food taste delicious and they are successful every time! From small kids to adults of any age they excel at expanding horizons. If you are looking for an organization that is passionate about improving the health of the community while making it an enjoyable experience, look no further!
This is one of the best non profits as it’s incredibly important for all of us to stay healthy and eat healthier because medical bills could bankrupt you to no end.
It is always such a pleasure to volunteer with Slice 325! I helped out in the Seeds garden and there were plenty of fun activities for my group to do-- even when it started thundering and we had to go inside. Shemecka always goes above and beyond to thank her volunteers by providing us with drinks and snacks, and she even made us all lasagna for lunch! Her generosity is always unexpected but very appreciated.
I extremely enjoyed my session with Slice 325. Helped me to question my eating and cooking practices. Sometimes we need others to show us how to make it happen.
I just attended the Spice Making class. It was interesting and educational. Shemecka is knowledgeable and down to earth. I also participate in the Community Garden and it is also educational and fun, along with great exercise! Look forward to continuing my association with Slice 325.
It was a great experience! I really learned a lot and enjoyed my time there at the garden. I looking forward to the upcoming events with your organization.
SLICE325 hosted my organization at a community garden workday. We helped maintain the garden, doing tasks such as weeding, planting, harvesting and general garden maintenance. Shemecka McNeil, Executive Director of SLICE325, is an amazing leader and teacher. Shemecka made gardening very accessible by demonstrating activities and explaining how the work we did benefited the plants and the garden's overall productivity. She is also very generous - she shared her knowledge and produce from the garden with us. It was wonderful to see everyone get into the gardening activities, even those who were unsure or unfamiliar with garden work. It was an amazing day - we learned a lot, the work was fun, and at the end of the workday we could see the impact of our labor.
On 12/12/21, Slice 325 came to the Henderson Family YMCA and did a food demonstration and tasting for our Diabetes Prevention Program participants. The menu consisted of healthier holiday egg nog, roasted herb butternut squash, roasted turkey breast, collards, and red cabbage prepared with apples and onion. Shameka is very personable and professional, as is Christa. This is Slice 325's 2nd time at the Henderson Family YMCA, and both of their programs were very informative and entertaining. Slice 325 use good food sanitation practices and followed CDC guidelines for pandemic safety precautions. They arrived on time and cleaned up after themselves. I highly recommend this organization as a dependable, reliable manner in which to teach participants how to eat delicious healthier meals while on a budget.
I had the opportunity to work with Shemecka on a number of events. I found her to be very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. She seems to bring a positive energy we’re ever she go.
Shemecka is a wonderful, generous person. She has donated to area fire departments, giving relief to those on the front lines. She always thinks of others in their time of need. She is truly an inspiration and a selfless human being. Thank you, Shemecka!!
Shemecka is one of the most giving person I know. Her nonprofit slice-25 gives to many organizations throughout the triangle. I have ate and taste Shemecka's good food and she is a great chef and cook. she cares for others and looks out for the less fortunate. She works hard to make the community better by providing her services for the best for humanity. She is the best and I know she will continue to do well and serve her community.
I really enjoyed the Covid-19 informative Zoom. Shamecka shared a lot of great, inexpensive practical ideas. I look forward to learning more from her.
I was invited to a zoom conference.
Topic: Slice 325 COVIT-19 emergency food, education & sustainability
Time: Jun 10, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time
This conference was very detailed oriented. I enjoyed all the information and advice given. She took her time and answered all questions and concerns. It was very engaging. I am happy to have taken part in this conference.
-Venita Alderman Brandon
Awesome awesome job! Shemecka McNeil make you feel so comfortable and so well informed. I really want to grow some beans and microgreens now! It's the best thing... Slice 325 needs to be offered regularly to communities. This just makes sense and would help so many people. ~ Derrick Holloway
I was invited to a Covid-19 Emergency Food education and sustainability virtual class that Shemecka was teaching. It was very informative, detailed and organized , she answered all questions and did not hesitate to repeat any information. I learned some valuable information on veggies. I plan to see what other classes Slice 325 offer to help my on my healthy living journey.
I enjoyed all of the great and inexpensive ideas that Shamecka shared. I have very high allergic reactions to food so this was very helpful for me . I look forward to seeing more great cooking ideas!
I've known Shemecka, the owner of Slice 325, for almost 4 years now. She has catered 4 private events for me and her food and customer service is impeccable!!! I give her my theme & budget and she comes up with a menu for me. She is ALWAYS on time with the delivery and goes above & beyond to ensure my event is a sucess in the food & drink department!! I highly recommend this company and will be using her again for alk my future events!
Slice 325 founder Shemecka McNeil is a true professional with a heart for helping people eat healthy, delicious food. She graciously hosted a webinar for my company on how to grow micro greens. It was fantastic! Shemecka packed the one-hour event with great information and lots of fun. Many participants commented that they would watch her if she had her own show. Shemecka is an excellent teacher, and her expertise and love for her subject matter shine through. I look forward to working with Shemecka and Slice 325 again in the near future.
Gina Rozier
FixerSisters
Shemecka is a talented and wonderful person. She has cooked for us at my job and the food was very flavorful. She is a very caring person who obviously cares about her community as well. Very proud of you!!!
Ms. Shemeka’s dishes are well prepared and delicious. They are not rushed and not prepared in a hurry. The flavor says it all! She is dedicated and and committed to her craftsmanship. I highly recommend her for any culinary events. She is phenomenal! Keep up the great work and much success going forward!!
I invited them to a middle school career fair and was blown away by how the students responded to her presentation. Ms. McNeil came in dressed as a chef and presented about her journey with cooking and how she began to share her culinary skills with others. So many of the students left excited about cooking and expanding their palates and maybe trying new foods like purple cauliflower or sweet potatoes. So thankful that she was able to make it!
Slice 325 has been a blessing to me & others . Compassion & giving is at the forefront of this mission .
SLICE325 has done an excellent job within the community. I'd like to thank them for providing free meals and education within East Durham and for working with several organizations to make their events a success!! I look forward to seeing what the future holds...
GReat organization and staff is reliable.. I learned about the additional services they provide and was very interested in the programs they offer..
The services provided by Slice 325 are second to none. They really take pride in their work and it shows. Ms. McNeil and staff are extremely knowledgeable and professional. I highly recommend this organization for all of your culinary educational needs.
Wonderful to work with!!! She does exceptional work for the community. An super understanding. You can ask her one million question she has the utmost patience.
Excellent to work!!! She does exceptional work while working with the homeless or the less fortunate. Always there with the best ideas!!!
Slice 325 is an awesome organization! The food is out of this world and the hospitality is much more than you would ever expect. Our Agency offers support groups and the timing is right around dinner time, so we try to provide a little something for our clients to eat while they learn. We were looking for ideas for our clients when we came across Slice 325. The owner Shemecka showed up at our support group, served everyone and was very warming and inviting. Shemecka treats everyone with so much respect and love. You can tell that Shemecka loves what she does for the community. I can't say enough about how great Slice 325 is!!!!! We love her so much, we have made a special page for her on our website! https://flvf.org/slice-325/
I work with Families Living Violence Free, Granville County's Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Agency located in Oxford, NC. I am also one of the DV101 class coordinators. Slice 325 has hosted several of our trainings and we couldn't be more pleased with what she provides for us. So many of our victims/survivors need assistance with skills on how to coupon and make their money last as well as helping them maximize their resources in order to make nutritious/tasty meals for their families on little or no budget! Shemecka's knowledge of nutrition and meal prep has helped our families try to continue on with their lives after having experienced so much trauma. We HIGHLY recommend Slice 325 and will definitely contact Shemecka again in the near future! We just love her!!
Peggy Roark
Sexual Assault Advocate
Adult & Empowerment Services
FLVF
proark@flvf.org
Slice 325 offers a Creative Sustainability program, designed as a five-week course to help low-income citizens by showing them how to create healthy meals for themselves and their families. Chef Shemecka has partnered with Habitat For Humanity. Wake County and Durham County outreach programs assisting those in need. She is an advocate for many and will go beyond the call of duty to feed the community. Slice325 has been a blessing to many.
I met Chef Shemeka about 8 months ago. I was so impressed. She is very community servlce oriented. She has feed over a thousand people since I met her. I have volunteered with he on several occasions. I enjoyed working with and helping to champion her cause. She has great plans for the future on teaching substainability and nutrition. Everyone loves her food and hospitality.
Slice 325 goes above and beyond for the community and the surrounding area. This nonprofit does extraordinary work whether it’s assisting with events for the youth or working with the domestic violence women’s shelter in down town Raleigh. The founder of this nonprofit is always willing to help in any way possible. She is a phenomenal person to work with.
Shamecka McNeil (Slice 325 founder) is a great resource for all things healthy eating, sustainable food prep for all socioeconomic backgrounds, and more. Slice 325 introduces people as young as school age to food; growing, picking, cooking, how to cook with what you have, and the list can go on. Ms. McNeil will leave with a new sense of "wow, that is good and easy" and ready to explore new vegetables, green thumb life, and share newfound knowledge with family friends. I would recommend Slice 325 to any school district, nonprofit, community group, or housing authority in the nation.