World Central Kitchen sees a need, packs up and arrives to deliver nutritious, homemade meals to victims of disaster and first responders aiding those affected.
World Central Kitchen has re-activated #ChefsForCalifornia (which responded to the Thomas Fire in 2017) to provide quality meals to those seeking shelter from the fire.
[s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)]
Only paid subscribers have access to our site’s lead stories, as well as the Convo Cafe. When you become a recurring subscriber, you will have full access to all lead stories as well as the entire website. Plus, you’ll have the option to receive email notifications of everything we post on aNewsCafe.com.
We look forward to you being part of aNewsCafe.com’s online family of paid subscribers. Your support helps us not just survive, but thrive and bring even more quality content to you by top-notch contributors and journalists about topics crucial to you, our region and our world.
Read more about our decision here.
Click here to subscribe!
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
[/s2If]
[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)]
WCK is coordinating with California’s Office of Emergency Services, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army to oversee food relief. It’s also partnered with fellow Food First Responders Operation BBQ Relief and Guy Fieri to provide quality meals to those in shelters.
Its mission is to change the world through the eyes of a chef.
For the past week, World Central Kitchen has been in the North State providing comfort food to thousands of Carr Fire victims and fire and law enforcement personnel fighting the deadly blaze that ripped through the community.
But it takes space, and the right place in order to land in town and whip up dishes like Jambalaya, homemade chili, and sausage and peppers for a mass audience.
That’s where Sizzle’s Kitchen came in. Owned by Karen Christensen in the old Leatherby’s location, Sizzle’s is a commercial kitchen – the only one north of Sacramento – for rent, whose regular customers include Furnari’s Sausage and Shasta Kombucha.
“It makes me feel happy that my kitchen is being put to good used during this trying time,” Christensen said.
Jason Collins, of the World Central Kitchen, answered questions Thursday while juggling preparations for the dinnertime rush.
“When there’s a need, we will come,” he said, adding he’s just returned from leading a food-cooking relief operation in Guatemala after a volcano erupted.
“I’m from Ventura (Calif.) and remember the Thomas Fire last year. I wanted to come up here and help. We knew what Redding is going through.”
Collins said World Central Kitchen is providing up to 1,200 meals per day for the Red Cross evacuation center at Shasta College, and another 500 for first responders battling the blaze or working to restore infrastructure.
“Food is an equalizer,” Collins said. “The firefighters are happy to have a hot meal. It nourishes not only the body, but the soul.”
World Central Kitchen purchases all its ingredients locally and prepares not only hot dishes, but adds fruits and salads along with its main course.
“We purchased sausage from Furnari, and I understand he lost his home in the fire,” Collins said.
He added they will be here, “until the need is met.”
Skylar Kingsbury, whose Lake Redding home was evacuated, but spared by the flames, was out volunteering for the organization on Thursday. The Shasta High School graduate and budding photographer was out on the front lines of Whiskeytown and Lewiston, not only delivering meals to crews, but taking photos of the men and women.
“It was so rewarding to see the firefighters and linemen out there with a smile on their face for getting a home-cooked meal,” Kingsbury said. “In talking to then, some had been working for 36 hours and had only eaten a few things.
“A hot meal is the least we can do for them.”
Volunteers prepare food for fire victims, first responders and firefighters.
When a friend asked her to help volunteer, she didn’t hesitate. She and her family have been evacuated for nine days and might not be able to return to their Amethyst home for four or five more days.
“There were 10 of us out handing out 500 meals,” she said, adding the need for volunteers is still there.
Interested in helping? Volunteers are needed to assist in preparation of meals and delivery. If you’re available in the Redding area, email WCK at info@worldcentralkitchen.org to volunteer.
Photos by Skylar Kingsbury.
[/s2If]
Aaron Williams is a freelance writer and editor living in Redding who has spent the past 20-plus years in the newspaper and communications business. He loves telling stories almost as much as he loves coaching freshman football at Shasta High School.
