Giving Kitchen Celebrates 10 Years of Exponential Growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Giving Kitchen Celebrates 10 Years of Exponential Growth Transforming the Lives of Over 13,000 Food Service Workers
[ATLANTA, GA] - Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance and network of community resources to food service workers in times of crisis, is proud to announce its 10-year anniversary. Over the past decade, Giving Kitchen has achieved remarkable growth, becoming a vital lifeline for thousands of individuals and families within the food service industry who ask for help.
In just ten years, Giving Kitchen has served an astonishing 13,000 clients, providing critical support to 5,000 recipients through financial assistance amounting to $9 million. The organization has also successfully prevented eviction and homelessness for 6,100 food service workers and their children, saving over $15 million in excess costs, such as late fees or additional housing expenses. These incredible accomplishments highlight Giving Kitchen's unwavering commitment to the well-being of those who keep our communities nourished.
Significantly, 25% of Giving Kitchen's impactful work has occurred within the past 12 months, exemplifying the exponential growth the organization has experienced. Building upon this momentum, Giving Kitchen aims to serve 5,000 restaurant workers in 2023, 10,000 in 2024, and an impressive 15,000 food service workers in 2026. With this accelerated growth trajectory, Giving Kitchen aims to be an integral part of every food service community.
To meet this pivotal moment, Giving Kitchen is delighted to introduce Brooke Kamke as its first Chief Operating Officer. Brooke brings a wealth of experience as an innovative nonprofit leader, having spent over 20 years navigating complex organizations, cultivating community partnerships, and scaling operations. Her successful career in strategy, operations, and leadership in education and healthcare, including notable positions at Emory Rollins School of Public Health, Emory Healthcare, and ReadSource, positions her as the ideal candidate to drive Giving Kitchen's continued growth and impact.
"We are thrilled to welcome Brooke Kamke to the Giving Kitchen team," said Bryan Schroeder, Giving Kitchen’s Executive Director. "Her expertise and passion for helping others align perfectly with our mission. With Brooke's leadership, we are confident that we will make even greater strides in our efforts to support food service workers in need."
As Giving Kitchen celebrates its 10-year anniversary, the organization remains steadfast in its commitment to building the infrastructure necessary to deliver life-changing assistance to food service workers. “Giving Kitchen was born from individual members of our community coming together to rally behind one chef; together, that community ignited a mission to help thousands,” said Jen Hidinger-Kendrick, Giving Kitchen Founder. “On average, we are receiving 4x the monthly asks for help than when the pandemic started in 2020, further proving that the need to help food service workers continues to grow.” This past quarter, Giving Kitchen served
its 8,000th Stability Network client, its 5,000th financial assistance award, and its $9 millionth dollar. According to self-reported client data, GK has prevented the eviction and homelessness of approximately 3,600 food service workers and 2,250 of their children. Through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and compassionate support, Giving Kitchen seeks to empower those who play an essential role in our culinary landscape.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Rebecca Wagner, Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications Email: rebecca@thegivingkitchen.org
Special Thank You to Our 2023 Annual Corporate Partners:
KFC, Olo for Good, Sysco, U.S. Foods, Popmenu, Proof of the Pudding, Revel Systems, Liberty Housing Corporation, Ruth’s Chris Steak House + UP on the Roof, TalentServed, Atlanta Braves, Bearded Iris + Scofflaw Brewing, GoDo Life, Gordon Food Service + Halpern’s, Jabian, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Atlanta Magazine, Restaurant Informer