World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that is first to the frontlines providing fresh meals in response to crises. Applying their model of quick action, leveraging local resources, and adapting in real time, WCK has served more than 400 million nourishing meals around the world.
THE MISSION: to be the first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
WCK has served more than 400 million meals to families impacted by humanitarian and natural disasters since founding in 2010. Today, WCK’s Relief Team is on the ground in Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, and Ukraine, providing hope to families impacted by crises, one plate of food at a time. Their teams stand shoulder to shoulder with the communities they serve.
“THE WCK WAY”
WCK has learned a lot about itsour potential over the years. They’ve seen their model work in a myriad of disasters and crises and have quickly become a leading organization in food relief. WCK hasve accomplished this by wholeheartedly embracing what makes them unique - this is what they call “the WCK Way”:
WCK shows up when others can’t or won’t. They err on the side of feeding people expediently vs. asking for permission or following systems and bureaucracy that lack urgency and flexibility. WCK is a frontline force that shows up with the fierce urgency of now. They are “911 for food relief.”
WCK hires locally and buys locally as much as possible. They tap into and fuel the courage and tenacity of people and businesses in the affected community. There is no greater force for good than a neighbor helping a neighbor. And there is no greater intel than a neighbor advising WCK on local needs.
Communities are their superpower. WCK shifts local communities from secondary players to active architects and actors of a more inclusive and ambitious mission. This unique, multi-participant approach transforms the geographic, cultural, and emergency-related challenges of any activation into an opportunity for a faster, more decisive response. It’s an approach that has, and will continue, to allow WCK to engage a larger and untapped pool of talent. This local connection ensures that their response understands, tastes like, looks like, and speaks like the communities they serve. This fosters a diverse collective where feeding becomes a shared responsibility and passion.
WCK operates in challenging environments, and they will continue to do so. They operate with an “embrace chaos mindset” vs a “peace-time mindset.” Decisions made at any given point during the disaster are the right decisions, with the knowledge at that time. They embrace this thinking and adapt quickly as needed.
WCK does not respond to a set list of disasters or crises. They show up when food access has been disrupted. The model has worked following a grocery store shooting in Buffalo, NY, a global pandemic, hurricanes, war in Ukraine, etc. They feed people - and when an emergency disrupts access to food, they will be there.
WCK is entrepreneurial and adaptive at tackling predictable and unpredictable situations. WCK will be fearless through successes and failures; move with urgency; remain nimble in their mindset and their systems & structures, creating a fluid environment that can support a growing, evolving organization; and be relentless to the point that they overcome barriers and embody resilience in everything they do.
Each activation is a catalyst for future growth. They learn from adversity and from the communities they serve. The best plan is the plan to adapt - WCK develops emergent strategies in real time based on situational needs. “Listen to the disaster and it will speak to you.” - José Andrés
$.50 per every bowl of ramen sold during the month of September will be donated directly to World Central Kitchen. To learn more, please visit, https://wck.org/