National Philanthropy Day Spotlight: Minnesota Central Kitchen
Throughout the month of November, the Association of Fundraising Professionals will be highlighting honorees from National Philanthropy Day chapter events around the world, showcasing outstanding donors, volunteers, corporations, foundations and others who are being recognized for their commitment to change and philanthropy.
Today we’re showcasing the Minnesota Central Kitchen, honored by the AFP Minnesota Chapter.
The Minnesota Central Kitchen, a program of Second Harvest Heartland, brings together restaurants, caterers and hunger-fighting organizations to tackle hunger and service-sector layoffs brought on by the pandemic.
They empower the state’s hospitality professionals to keep working at what they do best – feeding hungry people – while responding to surging need for food assistance and rescuing donated food.
Founded in March as a result of COVID-19, the Minnesota Central Kitchen provides prepared meals to anyone to respond to the surge in hunger and see communities through recovery. A special effort is made to serve Minnesotans who are currently unable to cook or access prepared, including those who are sick, homebound, unhoused, frontline or essential workers, and the children and families whose caregivers are ill.
The Minnesota Central Kitchen food service, restaurant and catering partners provide the kitchen space, employees, supplies and ingredients to supplement the donations from the MealConnect platform, an app that provides area institutions a medium to donate large-scale food items to Minnesota Central Kitchen. Currently, more than 60% of the meals are prepared with rescued food.
Read more about the organization here.
The AFP Minnesota Chapter hosted a virtual National Philanthropy Day celebration on Thursday, Nov. 12. Learn more about the celebration here.
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