The story of how World Central Kitchen feeds 250,000 people a day during the coronavirus pandemic
The World Central Kitchen (WCK), founded by Chef Jose Andres and his wife Patricia, serves to provide “a hot plate of food when it’s needed most.” Acting in response to dozens of disasters that include both natural and man-made disasters, WCK helps to change the world through the power of food by serving millions of meals each year. Whether it be serving food to children in shelters on the border of Mexico or helping to feed the hungry in Indonesia, WCK goes beyond boarders to help fight against hunger. In conjunction with this, WCK is helping to create food resiliency in the face of future disasters through their Plow to Plate program which entails planting roots in the communities where WCK work.
As of late, WCK has launched the campaign #ChefsForAmerica, in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Active in dozens of cities across America, WCK is providing over 25, 000 fresh meals every day. WCK is safely distributing individually packaged, fresh meals in communities that need support – for children and families to pick up and take home, as well as delivery to seniors who cannot venture outside. Additionally, WCK is also activating restaurants to help meet demand by providing jobs for their staff and meals for those in need. #ChefsForAmerica bridges the gap between people who need meals and restaurant workers and drivers who need to earn a living.
In keeping true to the notion that “the future of the nations will depend on how they feed themselves” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, 1826, WCK acts upon the belief that there is no place too far or disaster too great for their chefs to be there with a hot plate of food when it is needed most. Jose Andres and his team bring to life John Steinbeck’s words: “Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people may eat, we will be there.”
