Haley Harward for Restaurant Informer:
From left, Chef Craig Kuhns; GK Founder Jen Hidinger-Kendrick; Executive Director Bryan Schroeder; Meherwan Irani, executive chef, CEO and founder of Chai Pani Restaurant Group; and Gustavo Baez.
The restaurant industry is a vibrant and dynamic community that brings people together through the love of food. However, the industry is not without its challenges, and when a crisis strikes, it can be devastating for foodservice workers and their families.
That’s why Giving Kitchen (GK) is such a beacon of hope and support for those in need, providing emergency assistance to foodservice workers through financial support and referrals to community resources.
GK holds various events throughout the year to raise money and awareness, like Team Hidi in Atlanta and golf tournaments in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. GK also provides foodservice workers access to free medical resources and services through events like Pop-Up Doc and their mental health campaign, Mind Matters.
Each year, there’s also Dining With Gratitude, a national month-long campaign in October during which participating restaurants nationwide, with most concentrated in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, commit to a minimum donation of $1,000 to support GK’s mission.