World Central Kitchen

Eid Mubarak from WCK's kitchen in Deir al-Balah, Gaza. 🌙 As Ramadan comes to a close and Eid al-Fitr arrives, Ahmed and our team in Gaza want to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our mission—our donors, our partners, and every helping hand along the way. Together, we distributed tens of millions of meals through our Ramadan food kits so families could cook for themselves and break their fast with dignity. Our local teams will keep doing what they do every day: show up to ensure anyone in need receives a nourishing meal. #ChefsForGaza

As the partial U.S. government shutdown continues, we're working with our longtime partner and Chef Corps-owned restaurant RASA to serve delicious Indian dishes to TSA agents working without pay. Today, we served agents at BWI airport, who told us that they're grateful not to worry about their next meal and are loving the flavors RASA is serving up. #ChefsForFeds

When the bombings reached South Lebanon, Aafrak had to leave everything behind. A cook at one of WCK's kitchens, she fled with her family to Jbeil where she found a place to stay and went straight back to work. Within days, she was already at another WCK kitchen, cooking to the same standard she always has. "My hope is to return to our home and, most importantly, find it unharmed—not destroyed, as it was in the last war. To be together again, to see our family and our neighbors, and to go back to working in the south." #ChefsForMidEast

Iftar is more than a meal people eat at sunset to break their fast during #Ramadan—it’s a time for communities to come together in gratitude and reflection. Teams at WCK-supported kitchens in Mawasi organized a communal iftar to help bring displaced families together to celebrate. They served hot meals and Ramadan sweets, but more importantly, they created a space filled with comfort, joy, and hope. #ChefsForGaza

When a Ukrainian Railways train from Sumy to Rakhiv was delayed by Russian strikes, WCK teams were on the platform to provide meal kits packed with ready-to-eat food to families waiting to resume their journey. As attacks on transport infrastructure persist, these specially designed kits are one more way WCK stays ready to support communities wherever they need us. #ChefsForUkraine

As conflict intensified in northern Israel, WCK teams in nearby Nazareth prepared iftar meals for families in Zarzir observing Ramadan whose homes had been damaged—making sure they could break their fast with a warm, nourishing meal. #ChefsForMidEast

Checking in from Lebanon with WCK's Ramy. 📍 The shelters in Beirut are full as hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from the south and areas around the Lebanese capital. Many families are in the streets with nowhere to go. Rainy conditions are making the situation even more challenging. WCK is serving tens of thousands of hot meals daily in shelters, along with croissants so anyone on the move can have something to eat. #ChefsForMidEast

“This kit I received, I really needed it.” – Aisha, WCK Recipient Aisha is the main provider for her family of 14, who were displaced from their home in northern Gaza. She used ingredients from a WCK's #Ramadan kit to prepare a comforting zucchini and carrot soup for her family’s iftar meal, something she used to make at home. #ChefsForGaza

"We were already watching the news, looking at all the lines and worrying about the TSA staff. We were like, oh my God, how can we get involved?" Graham Painter and Benchawan Jabthong Painter of @streettokitchen answered their own question—cooking hundreds of meals for Homeland Security employees at Hobby Airport and IAH in Houston. WCK is proving meals at airports in the Greater Baltimore-Washington area and Houston where security wait times are some of the longest in the country due to the partial government shutdown. #ChefsForFeds

A severe sandstorm swept across Gaza this weekend, turning the sky yellow and damaging displaced families’ temporary shelters. However, WCK’s Palestinian teams didn’t let the storm keep them from supporting their communities. They still showed up at our kitchens, ready to prepare and distribute hot meals to people in need. #ChefsForGaza

For the past month, TSA workers at BWI Airport in Baltimore have been showing up every single day without pay to make sure travelers fly safely during the partial U.S. government shutdown. WCK’s Naomie checks in from BWI, where we teamed up with Chef Corps-led Peruvian Brothers to bring hot meals to the essential workers keeping travelers safe. #ChefsForFeds

✈️ 👩‍✈️Maryland high schooler Jane spent her morning delivering meals to TSA Agent Princess and colleagues at BWI airport—Essential staff like Princess are working without a paycheck due to the partial U.S. government shutdown. "I'm flying in a few days to visit my sister for spring break, and I'm really thankful for the TSA workers showing up to work, even without being paid," Jane said. #ChefsForFeds

In #Ramadan, lanterns light the nights. Lanterns mark the rhythm of Ramadan evenings, when communities gather for iftar, head to night prayers, and search the final nights for Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Power—one of the most sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. In Gaza, lanterns are not easy to find. So Hajjah Um Hani, who receives hot meals from WCK, made her own. Using empty soda cans and pieces of old cardboard, she carefully cut and shaped lanterns by hand. Not for herself, but for the children around her. “I wanted to make kids happy and make them feel the Ramadan atmosphere,” she said. In homes across Gaza, small acts like this carry enormous meaning. Lanterns are part of the feeling of Ramadan—the warmth of nights together, the joy of children, and the quiet belief that these sacred nights still belong to the community. In these difficult moments, people hold on to the light of Ramadan, even when it comes from lanterns made of cardboard. #ChefsForGaza

For WCK's #ChefsForHaiti team member Reginald, serving meals goes beyond putting food on the table. He sees the economic ripple effect his work has on his community, something he believes is especially meaningful for young Haitians entering the workforce. In Haiti and around the world, WCK relies on local team members to serve their neighbors with dignity and care.

WCK-provided potable water is a lifeline in Gaza. During #Ramadan, when families are fasting from dawn to sunset, access to it is especially critical. Our teams are ensuring people in displacement camps have reliable access for drinking and cooking when they break their fast. #ChefsForGaza

Every day in Lebanon, Chef Yolla Jaara leads a team of women at a WCK kitchen in Byblos, coming together to prepare nourishing meals for displaced families. She works alongside her team with warmth and care so every meal is filled with the flavors that remind people of home. #ChefsForMidEast

Yurii was watching TV at home in Mykolaiv when he heard an engine-like sound approaching. Seconds later, an explosion rocked the building, sending glass flying across the room. Yurii, who uses a wheelchair, moved as quickly as he could to safety. In the aftermath, WCK teams served Yurii and his neighbors—along with first responders—hot meals, snacks, and drinks. As attacks persist across Ukraine, our teams remain ready to reach communities when they need us most. #ChefsForUkraine

For the past 10 days, families in Kiryat Shmona have been under constant fire. Our team in Israel is on the ground delivering hot meals to seniors who have no safe access to food. Our teams across the Middle East are working around the clock to feed families caught in the middle of this crisis. #ChefsForMidEast

In Haiti, ongoing violence has contributed to food insecurity and economic challenges. WCK's 100% local teams are stepping up to care for their neighbors, as many families remain displaced. Hear from WCK team member Reginald on how his work supports the local economy. #ChefsForHaiti

When Aisha received a #Ramadan food kit from WCK, she immediately began planning the meals she would make. Most of the items inside are difficult to find on her own, making the delivery especially meaningful for her family. She is most excited to make vegetable soup, a dish commonly eaten for iftar, along with qatayef and basbousa, traditional Ramadan sweets. #ChefsForGaza