About World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen was founded by chef José Andrés to provide fresh, nourishing meals to communities in the immediate aftermath of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other disasters, as well as in conflict zones.

Rather than shipping in pre-packaged rations, WCK's model is to cook real meals using local ingredients and local cooks and restaurants whenever possible, getting food to people fast while also supporting the local economy during recovery.


First to the Frontlines

WCK's Chef Relief Teams are often on the ground within hours of a disaster, setting up field kitchens and coordinating with local restaurants, food trucks, and community kitchens that already know how to feed their own neighborhoods.

The organization has responded to hurricanes across the Caribbean and U.S. Gulf Coast, earthquakes, and humanitarian crises in places like Ukraine and Gaza, often serving hundreds of thousands of meals a day at the height of a response.


More Than Emergency Meals

Beyond the first days of a disaster, WCK stays engaged to help rebuild local food systems—supporting restaurants, food producers, and school meal programs so communities can feed themselves again.

Every meal is also a message: in the middle of loss and uncertainty, someone showed up with a hot plate of food and the simple assurance that people had not been forgotten.

See Where WCK Is Responding

WCK publishes ongoing updates on its active relief efforts around the world, along with stories from the cooks, volunteers, and communities involved.