World Central Kitchen, Inc.
World Central Kitchen is a not-for-profit non-governmental organization devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters. They use the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies through times of crisis and beyond.
World Central Kitchen has received three grants from the Bain Capital Relief Fund. The first in February 2018 in response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, the second in September 2019 after Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc in the Bahamas and the third in December 2021 after Kentucky experienced the most devastating series of tornadoes in the state’s history.
Hurricane Maria Response
Chef José Andrés of World Central Kitchen arrived in Puerto Rico four days after Hurricane Maria ripped through the island. The economy was destroyed and for most people there was no clean water, no food, no power, no gas, and no way to communicate with the outside world. From September 2017 to June 2018, WCK served over 3.7 million meals from 25 kitchens, with the help of over 20,000 volunteers.
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Before Hurricane Dorian even landed in the Bahamas, World Central Kitchen was positioned in Nassau, mapping out operations and preparing to activate kitchens. In the days that followed, WCK prepared fresh meals from the kitchen in Nassau and brought them by helicopter to the Abacos. From there, they delivered throughout the islands using boats, seaplanes, and whatever means necessary to reach the islands and cays that were cut off from support. On Grand Bahama, they brought in a 220-foot supply ship to begin cooking hot meals onsite for families who had lost everything. The team ended up cooking in The Bahamas for months, serving more than 3 million meals across 250 distribution sites to communities on the Abacos and Grand Bahama as well as to evacuees staying in Nassau.
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On December 11, 2021, parts of Kentucky experienced the most devastating series of tornadoes in the state’s history. Four tornadoes touched down in the state with one staying on the ground for over 200 miles. At least 80 people were killed and the tornadoes caused serious damage to many communities. World Central Kitchen arrived in Kentucky immediately following the storm, spread out across the state and sent teams to assess needs in Illinois, Tennessee and Arkansas. They partnered with the Lee Initiative to mobilize local food trucks to reach rural communities. WCK served more than 110,000 fresh meals to impacted people in the month of December.
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